ZAGREB, May 9, 2018 - Economy Minister Martina Dalić on Wednesday briefly commented on the publication of her e-mails about the Agrokor food and retail group, saying she considered herself responsible for protecting jobs and that she did not think she had done anything illicit.
The Index.hr website today published e-mails between Dalić and the authors of the law on extraordinary administration in systemic companies, dubbed Lex Agrokor, which prompted the opposition to demand her resignation and an investigation by the State Prosecutor's Office.
According to unofficial reports, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković is expected to comment on the case later today, followed by Dalić.
Ivan Vrdoljak, president of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), a junior partner in the ruling coalition, said he would request additional information from Plenković and then take a position on the media reports on Dalić's correspondence with the consultants and lawyers who had worked on Lex Agrokor, but stressed that the HNS would not "tolerate crime."
He added, however, that HNS would not leave the government "because Croatia doesn't need that." "Agrokor's employees don't need that either, or any other industry," he said, adding that "a destabilisation of the political sphere will stop economic growth" and result in a credit rating downgrade.
