ZAGREB, June 30, 2019 - Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said on Saturday that it was up to the relevant state institutions to establish if Public Administration Lovro Kuščević's business affairs had been legal and that any public office, notably those held by politicians, implied a sense of moral obligation.
As for whether information in Minister Kuščević's declaration of assets is correct and whether his business affairs were legal, that should be determined by the relevant state institutions, Grabar-Kitarović told reporters, adding that she could not speak about the case but that any public office, especially those held by politicians, implied a sense of moral obligation.
"No one can be above the law or above the people. Apart from legal aspects, we must also be guided by moral principles. The matter is up to the minister's conscience and the prime minister's decision."
Asked if she expected a major government reshuffle, Grabar-Kitarović said that a reshuffle would definitely have to happen considering that Foreign Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić was leaving to take office as Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.
However, the timing and extent of the reshuffle can be decided only by the prime minister, she added.
Asked about reports mentioning PM Plenković as a candidate for the post of European Council President, Grabar-Kitarović said that that showed that Croatia's foreign policy rating had improved in the last three years.
"I'm glad to hear that he is a candidate, I was glad when my name was mentioned (in a similar context), but I did not apply for any post and I did not hold any talks. I'm glad reporters recognise that Croatia does have politicians who can lead European institutions," she said.
When asked if she would run for a second term in office, Grabar-Kitarović replied "All in good time."
"I will not disappoint anyone who has supported me in Croatia, especially not the Croatian Democratic Union and its members, without whom I would have never been elected president," she said.
More news about President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović can be found in the Politics section.
