ZAGREB, 19 January, 2021 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said during Question Time in parliament on Tuesday that no one was untouchable when it came to corruption.
"No one is untouchable, everyone should know this," said Plenkovic responding to a question from MP Ivana Posavec Krivec (SDP) who called out the HDZ for corruption in Zagreb County.
Posavec Krivec recalled Plenković's recent claim that he has a "fine-tuned radar" and reminded him of the case where a renowned HDZ member went under the radar similar to the latest case with Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect Ivo Žinić.
"Now Žinić is passing under your radar too. Even though he earns HRK 18,000 a month and owns four properties, he lives in a state-owned property for HRK 100 a month. All that says is that you do not have a fine-tuned radar or that you are introducing the practice of recommending HDZ members to responsible positions even though they are prone to unlawful acts and corruption," Posavec Krivec claimed.
MP Rada Borić (New Left) asked how it was possible that the government had not exempted charity organisations from VAT. "Which is why we could have had five containers installed instead of four," said Borić.
Plenković said that he had asked the finance minister to see what could be done in that regard, recalling that for some other humanitarian actions the government had refunded the VAT charged.
He thanked all volunteers who helped the earthquake-hit areas. "That social solidarity is positive for the atmosphere in society and we appreciate that," he underscored.
MP Nikola Grmoja (Bridge) concluded that Plenković had not answered a single question from the opposition but had come prepared in advance for questions from his party. Grmoja warned of the issue of debt enforcement actions in earthquake areas asking why the government had not regulated that by law.
"We reacted immediately for activities related to enforcement in that area to stop, hence accusing us of being insensitive and that we do not have any empathy is not true," Plenković said, denying that his party colleagues had come with prepared questions.
Answering a question from MP Marijan Pavliček (HKS) who protested against monuments commemorating Chetnik occupiers, Plenković told him that he still had a lot to learn about Croatian sovereignty and about Croatia in 2020 and 2021. "You've missed several decades as far as general activities you are involved with are concerned," retorted Plenković.
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