ZAGREB, 21 Oct 2021 - President Zoran Milanović said on Thursday that Prime Minister Andrej Plenković should "rein his pal in", a reference to Defence Minister Mario Banožić and his decision to send into retirement the commander of the Honor Guard Battalion, Brigadier Elvis Burčul.
Speaking to reporters in Baćin, where he attended the 30th anniversary of the plight of local residents in the 1991-95 war, Milanović said that PM Plenković was the minister's "political guardian" and that he was not in conflict with Banožić over Burčul's retirement but that he would guarantee the army protection against "bullying and harassment."
"The minister is not relevant here. This is an immoral, serious abuse of legal authority to which I can respond with much bigger power. But where does that lead? The guardian should rein in his pal, who is a man without political autonomy. This has to do with the Prime Minister... and that can be proven easily," Milanović said.
In that context, he mentioned a state secretary in the government who was an active general, noting that he should have already sent him into retirement but did not do it because he felt sorry for him and waited for Plenković's decision.
"I want it done right away, otherwise I will have to do it. I warned Plenković of that because Banožić does not make any decisions anyway."
Milanović noted that an active serviceman cannot be a member of a political government.
Asked about the motive for Burčul's retirement, Milanović said: "A personal vendetta."
I want Burčul back and for him to retire in a dignified way
He noted that the Honor Guard Battalion was in charge of his security.
"And the minister dares harass such a person (Burčul). I want him back at work and I want him to retire in a dignified way," he said.
He noted that the extension of Burčul's term had been requested due to the requirements of the post, for the sake of transfer of duties and appointment of a new, younger commander as well as to enable Burčul to retire in a year and a half in a dignified way, instead of "being harassed by a person who until yesterday was a political nobody."
"That cannot pass, otherwise I will start acting the same way, but not towards the army," he said.
Milanović noted that the legal regulation under which the minister made the decision about Burčul's retirement was unconstitutional.
"The President of the Republic is the Commander-in-Chief, the minister is not, there is no mention about the minister in the Constitution. The minister has very extensive powers which in my opinion by far exceed the spirit and message of the Constitution - they decide about people's destinies during their term... If you rub them the wrong way, you can end up paying for it dearly," he said.
Milanović said that given that the budget was being adopted, he would on Friday request a meeting of the Defence Council due to the worrying financial situation in the army, noting that he believed Plenković would "delay the meeting, too, just as he makes an ordeal of everything, including the appointment of the Supreme Court president."
Asked if Burčul's retirement could be Plenković's revenge for the Supreme Court president, he said that it was possible.
"But that's futile, I can always respond in kind or worse in some cases," he said, mentioning in that context the appointment of new diplomats.
If you have not got vaccinated, you only have yourselves to blame
Commenting on the vaccination campaign and the potential expansion of the use of COVID-19 certificates, Milanović said that people in charge of making those decisions did not have a way to motivate people to get vaccinated "apart from using repression and nagging them."
"This is October 2021, those who have not got vaccinated have only themselves to blame," he said.
Milanović noted that it was possible he would receive a third shot but would have to check the level of antibodies first.
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