ZAGREB, July 16, 2019 - The resignation tendered by State Assets Minister Goran Maric ensued after a few days ago Marić had held talks with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on that step and it is not a surprise, the government's public relations office says in a press release issued on Monday afternoon.
The government says that on Monday morning Marić sent his letter of resignation to PM Plenković and afterwards informed the public about that move.
Marić announced his resignation on Monday in the town of Novi Vinodolski at a contract-signing ceremony saying this was the last contract on donating state properties he would sign.
"I worked under terrible pressure; I became a target. I cannot accept the unprecedented attack on myself and my family," he told surprised reporters in that coastal town.
In his written resignation to the premier, Marić said the State Assets Ministry had never worked in calm circumstances. "I worked under almost programmed pressure and in circumstances in which doubts were encouraged and tacitly approved as to the organisational foundation of the Ministry and the introduction of the necessary regulation of the status of state assets."
Marić said it was inconceivable and unacceptable that "the media's orchestration and creation of a lynching atmosphere takes priority over a calm and sensible insight into the value, achievements and effects of state assets" in Croatia's politics, economy and society.
Marić said it was incomprehensible that the targeted media pressure made serious work undertaken to activate state property that had been abandoned or seized for decades unimportant.
He added that he "cannot accept and endure the unprecedented media and public attack on the dignity, peace and integrity of my family."
The media suspect Marić over the purchases and sales of flats and the renovation of a part of the Franciscan monastery in Zagreb. He came under preliminary investigation by the USKOK anti-corruption office after the Index portal revealed how he acquired a flat in downtown Zagreb.
Croatian Prime Minister's chief of staff, Zvonimir Frka-Petešić, said on Monday afternoon that during the process of reshuffling his cabinet, the premier would decide whether or not to abolish the ministry of state assets, and the public would be informed in a timely fashion upon the conclusion of consultations.
Addressing the press outside Government House, during a round of consultations, Frka- Petešić reiterated that PM Plenković had known that Goran Marić would today step down as State Assets Minister.
The cabinet's chief-of-staff recalled the course of the previous events. He said that in the morning Marić had sent his letter of resignation to the premier and afterwards informed the public about his decision to step down.
Asked by the press whether the premier had asked Marić to leave the government, Frka- Petešić said that the resignation was a result of the talks between Plenković and Marić a few days before. However, Frka- Petešić could not specify the exact date of those talks.
Živi Zid member of parliament Damjan Vucelić told a news conference in Zagreb on Monday that the only solutions for the "crimes that happen" is holding an early parliamentary election.
As for the resignation of State Assets Minister Goran Marić, Vucelić said that it "is scandalous and unacceptable that the minister in charge of managing state assets makes use of the state to accumulate his wealth".
This opposition party also criticises Marić's decision to reactivate his term as a member of parliament.
Thus, the Sabor turns into "a centre for those Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) ministers who are no longer of any use".
More news about Marić’s resignation can be found in the Politics section.
