ZAGREB, March 18, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Wednesday presented a package of measures in parliament worth over HRK 30 billion to help the economy and called for the nation's solidarity and unity during the coronavirus pandemic.

"This is a circumstance which calls for responsibility and solidarity, a circumstance in which it is time for the nation's unity," he said. We can only win the war against coronavirus if we are united, he added.

If we are not united, we'll have bigger problems and greater damage, the prime minister said.

He expects economic entities and employers to understand the moment the country is in and to recognise job preservation as a common objective.

"Only if we are all solidary as a society will we overcome this crisis better. It's important that we share the burden equally and with solidarity," Plenković said, thanking MPs for agreeing to a fast track debate and vote on the government's aid package for the economy consisting of 63 measures in 19 bills.

Presenting the measures from the aid package, the prime minister said that in the "big fight for health," the fight for each job must not be forgotten.

Measures for a three-month deferral of tax payments worth HRK 12 billion, HRK 5 billion to employers who do not lay off workers for the payment of net salaries, the deferral of loan payments to banks and the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction ad Development totals HRK 17 billion, and sector measures total HRK 1 billion.

At this moment we don't know how much will be needed for new loans, Plenkovic said, calling on parliamentary parties to reach the highest consensus possible. He pledged that the government will continue to act transparently and brief parliament and the public about developments.

This package of measures may be the most complete one in any EU member state, he said.

Croatia plans to continue throughout the crisis, with full responsibility and protection of national interests, its role as chair of the Council of the EU and as a country which has responded to the crisis much better and faster, Plenković said.

The prime minister said he was satisfied with how Croatia was dealing with the coronavirus epidemic. "Croatia has recognised this threat in time and met it prepared."

The situation is under control, with a moderate number of those infected, 81 as of this morning, he said, adding that in order to keep the situation in check as much as possible, more drastic measures had to be imposed.

At the recommendation of epidemiologists and the national civil protection authority, we have prepared measures to restrict gatherings and social contacts as much as possible, the prime minister said.

He informed MPs that the European Council met on Tuesday and discussed measures against the coronavirus pandemic. There is European solidarity, notably with those who have suffered great losses, he said, adding that he also talked with budget commissioner Johannes Hahn.

The Commission has allowed Croatia to utilise €174 million for faster contracting of projects co-funded by the EU, Plenković said.

Finance Minister Zdravko Marić said liquidity and jobs came first at the moment.

It's important that these measures have an impact as soon as possible and additional ones will certainly be needed, he said. "We are aware of the high pace of the crisis and all the implications for the economy."

In creating the measures to help the economy, the government cooperated with the central bank, so there is monetary and fiscal policy synergy as well as cooperation with the social partners.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, March 16, 2020 - Prime Minister and HDZ president Andrej Plenković said on Sunday, after his team won an intra-party election, that the ruling party's members had clearly said what kind of HDZ they wanted.

"The members of the HDZ sent a very clear message today as to what kind of HDZ they wanted and which people they wanted at the helm of the party," Plenković said after the election results were released.

He thanked all HDZ members who took part in the intra-party election and voted for his team, saying the turnout was very good given the circumstances.

Plenković especially congratulated Tomo Medved on his election as deputy president as well as vice president Zdravka Bušić, saying she symbolised the HDZ from the party's beginnings and the time of its first president Franjo Tuđman. He also congratulated Oleg Butković, Branko Bačić and Ivan Anušić on their election as vice presidents.

"This is now the inner leadership, people who are special, each in their own way, not necessary that we should think alike about everything. Most important is that we share the same values and the direction of the development of the HDZ and Croatia," Plenković said, confident that he will lead the party to victory in a parliamentary election later this year.

He said the votes of about 70,000 HDZ members gave him a good legitimacy to continue to run the party and that he expected the party's approval ratings to improve.

The HDZ is where it should be, dominating Croatia's political spectrum, on the centre-right, Plenković said. We share state-building, patriotic and Christian democratic values, he added.

Miro Kovač, who also ran for party president, congratulated Plenković on his re-election. The party's former deputy president, Milijan Brkić, who ran for a vice presidential position, was not elected.

More HDZ news can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 16, 2020 - The current leader of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Andrej Plenković, was on Sunday re-elected president of this ruling party, according to first incomplete results.

Plenković mustered 80% of the vote and his counter-candidate Miro Kovac won 20%.

Tomo Medved, the war veterans' affairs minister in the Plenković cabinet, was elected deputy president, with 73% of the vote. His rival, Ivan Penava, the mayor of the City of Vukovar, won 27% of the vote.

The four candidates from Plenković's team for the four vice-presidents -- Oleg Butković, Ivan Anušić, Branko Bačić and Zdravka Bušić -- were the winners in these intra-party elections.

According to the reports after the ballots were counted at 206 polling stations out of 586 set up in the HDZ branches, the four candidates for the vice-presidents in Kovač's team won below 10%: Davor Ivo Stier seemed to fare best among them with 9%.

According to unofficial reports, Kovac has already congratulated Plenković on the victory.

More HDZ news can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 11, 2020 - European heads of state and government, with the participation of the European Commission and the European Central Bank, are looking to devise a European response to the coronavirus epidemic, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said during a visit to Škabrnja, inland from the coastal city of Zadar, on Tuesday.

"We as the Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU took measures even before the World Health Organisation declared the emergency," Plenković said, adding that Croatia had taken steps through the integrated crisis response mechanism already on 28 January.

He said that all countries were currently analysing the situation.

In Croatia, talks are in progress with all interested sectors of the national economy. Last week a meeting was held with hoteliers, and tomorrow the ministers of finance, economy and tourism will have consultations with representatives of all sectors, the PM said.

He said that the hardest hit would be the transport sector, notably air transport, and tourism. Croatia will be taking the necessary measures in both sectors, he added.

Plenković said that all government departments were monitoring the situation and would try to find ways at the European and national levels to minimise the damage to the Croatian economy.

The situation in Croatia is stable and under control thanks to measures being taken by the national civil protection authority, health workers and the state inspectorate, the prime minister said. "However, given the proximity of Italy, we have to be very cautious," he concluded.

Responding to questions from the press, Plenković disagreed with President Zoran Milanović's decision to remove the busts of prominent Croatian historical figures from the lobby of the President's Office. "That wasn't necessary. I think it was a wrong move," the prime minister said.

More news about coronavirus can be found in the Lifestyle section.

March 10, 2020 - There isn’t any amount money that would lure us back to Croatia, according to emigrants who responded to Prime Minister Plenković's recent financial incentive proposal to encourage their return. Croatian politicians and PM Andrej Plenković are clearly not listening to what emigrants are saying. Money is not the only reason they left, and it’s not even the main reason.

Uhljeb | Facebook

Croatia Mindset Must Change by 300 Percent

The mindset would have to change by 300 percent me to return to Croatia, explained a Zagreb man to Anamarija Burazer/24 Sata on March 10, 2020. He moved with his family to Cork, Ireland a few years ago. Upon being asked why they had moved out, he responded:

“I left because of the bunch of uhljebi (incompetent public sector employees) who are fed by the private sector so they can play solitaire. Then they release pedophiles and murderers while punishing grandmothers for cooking brandy. Politicians are working only for themselves and their own seats and citizens in Croatia feel like second-class citizens…"

In 2018, 24 Sata published the stories of several emigrants, all of whom who have sought happiness throughout the globe. However, they all agree about one thing: they have escaped injustice.

Considering that Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic just announced financial incentive measures to encourage Croatians to return home; 24 Sata checked in with several interviewees for the two-year-old series regarding the Prime Minister’s proposed incentives.

Domagoj Starcević | Facebook

Employees Have More Rights in Germany

“I have no plans to return to Croatia, and it’s unfortunate that I have more rights as an employee in Germany than I do as an employee in my own country,” Domagoj Starcević (29) reveals. He has lived in Munich for five years and is working as a chef. He still recommends that Croatians who are considering moving away do so.

“For me to return, they would have to offer me a job with two days off per week, a higher salary which is fully reported, and a guaranteed paycheck on the same day of every month,” he added.

Emigrants Find Work, Friends, Purpose Abroad

Since 2016, chemistry engineer Matea Večeric (27) has been living in faraway Japan.

“I would not go back, because once you find your place under the sun and a purpose, a life goal and create a circle of people around you that make you happy, there is nothing anyone can offer to lure me back. If I had had that from the beginning in Croatia, I might not have left,” Matea pointed out. The only thing that could bring her home is her family.

"For now, I continue on my path here in Japan,” she said and reports that she earns three times more in Japan than she did in her home country.

“There are many more opportunities to move forward and live stress-free,” Matea concluded.

Working to Live, Rather Than Survive

Zagreb's Sara Tešanović (30) moved to Germany three years ago with her boyfriend. There, she says, they work to live. In Croatia, they worked to survive.

“Whatever the Prime Minister and other politicians offer us will not provide a sufficient reason to return. It's not about money, it's about the whole situation. So, I wouldn't go back and there is nothing that these people can offer me to come back to,” Sara states decisively.

Andrea Simunović (26) also moved out of Croatia and he believes that the announcement of Prime Minister Plenkovic is just a new election trick.

"I don't think anyone will come back for that," she said.

Government: No Details on Financial Incentive Plan

Labor and Pension Minister Josip Aladrović says that Croatia has implemented new employment measures since the beginning of the year. He did not explain how he intended to stimulate the return of Croatian emigrants.

There is a brick wall in Imotski (home of the recent gay couple effigy burning), with the names of Croatians who have left the country. According to the latest figures: 189,000 people have emigrated from Croatia in the last five years. The emigration has not stopped and there are more and more names on the wall.

Follow our Politics page to keep updated on the demographic outlook in Croatia.

March 10, 2020 – On Sunday evening Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced a bold financial incentive to encourage emigrants to return to Croatia from abroad.

“The Ministry of Labour is preparing a new measure – a financial incentive measure for the return of our people who have temporarily gone abroad. We will financially support them to return,” Plenković said at the presentation of his team "Boldly for Croatia" at the HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) elections in the crowded hall of the Radisson Blu hotel in Split, which was greeted by applause.

HDZ Speeches Frequently Interrupted by Wild Applause

Raucous applause interrupted his speech several times. That was followed by speeches from Toma Medved, candidate for HDZ deputy president and the four candidates for the party's vice-presidents, Zdravka Bušić, Ivan Anušić, Branko Bačić and Oleg Butković. In their speeches, they rejected claims that HDZ had moved to the left and highlighted the success of the government under Plenković's leadership as reported by 24 Sata on March 8, 2020.

“We are six friends, but we are not the same, none of us owe anything to anyone. Nor do we share the same opinions on every topic. However, what connects us is the same vision, the same direction for HDZ and a common program that contains everything that matters to HDZ,” emphasized Plenković.

"Boldly for Croatia" | HDZ

Internal Elections for Sharing Ideas, Not Criticism

The HDZ president urged party members to support his team "Boldly for Croatia" in the elections, stressing the importance of unity in a party which has room for everyone, and for colleagues who are on other teams.

“These internal party elections should be an opportunity to compete about ideas surrounding Croatia's program and vision. They should not be used as an opportunity to criticize one another as if I were listening to and taking arrows from opposition parties. This is not the point of internal party elections. The purpose of internal elections is to maintain appropriate communication within the (party) framework and after which we will continue to cooperate in a normal manner,” said Plenković.

We Are Stronger as United Party

He stressed that the HDZ unity is important in the upcoming parliamentary elections because, he recalled, whenever HDZ is unified – they have success. And when they are not united – the party is in trouble.

“That's why it's important for us to stick together. There is room for everyone, and room for colleagues on other teams who have their own ideas and ambitions - I respect that,” added Plenković.

He noted that the difference is that his team is aware of the government's achievements over the past four years.

Croatia Achieved Sovereign Goals Under Tuđman

He dismissed the remarks of those (right wing) parties who condemn the HDZ's lack of sovereignty and stressed that Croatia had already achieved its sovereign goals under the first Croatian president, Franjo Tuđman. He added that he and his team are following Tuđman's policies.

“It is easy to push irresponsibly for mild populism, to raise passion, and promote falsehoods,” Plenković concluded, dismissing criticism of HDZ’s approach regarding sovereignty.

Follow our Politics page for details on the Prime Minister’s recent financial offer to Croatian emigrants, and their response.

ZAGREB, March 9, 2020 - The Zagreb Administrative Court has admitted a lawsuit by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and quashed a decision by the Conflict of Interest Commission under which in the case of appointment of his close friend Igor Pokaz as Ambassador to the UK, Plenković had breached principles of conscientious and transparent conduct.

The Administrative Court's ruling quashes the Commission's decision and suspends the proceedings in the case and the Conflict of Interest Commission is instructed to compensate the plaintiff for litigation costs in the amount of HRK 3,125.

The Conflict of Interest Commission, however, has said that it will appeal against the Administrative Court's ruling with the High Administrative Court as well as that it will continue with the practice of determining violation of principles of conduct by office-holders.

The Commission referred to the decision by the High Administrative Court of 12 September 2019 in a case where the plaintiff was Jasmin Bajić and which confirmed that practice. It said that the ruling of the High Administrative Court in question was adopted following the Administrative Court's decision of 2 July 2019 in a case concerning former HDZ leader Tomislav Karamarko, to which the Zagreb Administrative Court referred in its first-instance ruling.

At a session held on 11 October 2019, the Conflict of Interest Commission decided that Plenkovic had breached the principle of conscientious and transparent conduct by failing to declare that Pokaz was his close friend when proposing him for the position of ambassador.

In a lawsuit filed with the Administrative Court the prime minister contested the Commission's authority to make declaratory decisions whereby it determines violation of principles of conduct because he believes that the relevant legal regulation exclusively defines general principles of conduct for office-holders and that the relevant law does not envisage the possibility of imposing sanctions over violation of those principles.

The prime minister has also sued the Conflict of Interest Commission over its decision in a case related to a trip of a senior government delegation to Helsinki, where they attended the annual assembly of the European People's Party. A hearing in that case has been set for March 19.

More news about conflict of interest issues can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 7, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković says in an interview with the Večernji List daily that the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) positions itself firmly as a centre-right party that enables the highest number of the citizens to be gathered around the values of patriotism and Christian Democratic values.

Plenković said in the interview published on Saturday that the HDZ would first complete the ongoing process of the intra-party elections and that it would embark on preparations for the parliamentary elections so as to clinch one more victory.

As for the counter-candidate for the HDZ presidency, Miro Kovac and his team, Plenković describes them as people pursing alternative policies without any potential for coalitions.

Upon the completion of the elections in the party, we will search for (coalition) partners on the ground of their programmes and worldviews, the premier and the HDZ leader says.

He went on to say that the HDZ and Croatia's leadership "will be stakeholders and we will not push Croatia into isolationism".

Croatia's sovereignty can be bolstered by the country's stronger position in the European Union and by exerting its influence on regional, European and global developments, he explained.

In this context Plenković also gave an overview of the activities Zagreb is taking during the Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2020.

He promised the committed work on the issues crucial for the Croatian state. demographic revitalisation, economic growth, balanced development of the country, making the judiciary more efficient.

More HDZ news can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 3, 2020 - The European Union and each member state support and stand in solidarity with Greece, which is facing a wave of illegal migrants, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in Kastanies near the Greek-Turkish border on Tuesday.

As chairman of the Council of the EU, he visited the border together with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and European Parliament President Davide Sassoli.

They arrived to support Greece given its efforts to protect its own and thereby the external EU border, preventing illegal migration.

"We have sent the message that the EU and all member states will support and stand in solidarity with Greece," said Plenković.

The European leaders flew over the border area in a helicopter to see the situation on the ground. They were joined by Croatian Interior Minister Davor Božinović, who will chair an extraordinary meeting of EU interior ministers on this topic on Wednesday.

The Greek army, police and PM Mitsotakis briefed them on what is being done to protect the border.

"It's important that Greece, with its security forces, prevents a possible new illegal migration wave," said Plenković. He and his colleagues also visited the Greek police barricades on foot.

He said Greece would receive support from Frontex and a swift border response team as well as funding for that.

He said the situation was similar to 2015 and 2016 but with a key difference. "This Greek government, unlike the previous one (led by Alexis Tsipras), is controlling its border."

"After today's briefing, I believe Prime Minister Mitsotakis and the Greek authorities will guard their border," Plenković said.

EU leaders met in Kastanies amid increasing EU concerns about the arrival of thousands of migrants to the Greek border, after Turkey said it "opened its door" for refugees because dozens of Turkish soldiers had been killed in northern Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday he had refused €1 billion in European aid for holding migrants in Turkey because the EU did not wish to "share the burden".

More news about the migrant crisis can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, February 28, 2020 - Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader Andrej Plenković and his campaign team on Thursday handed in to the party's election commission lists with more than 45,000 signatures of HDZ members supporting his candidacy for HDZ president as well as lists with signatures supporting candidates for deputy president and vice-presidents.

Plenković arrived at the HDZ headquarters accompanied by some 200 party members, including many government ministers.

He collected the signatures of 45,792 party members, while Tomo Medved, who was nominated for HDZ deputy president, collected 38,909 signatures. The candidates for HDZ vice-presidents, Oleg Butković, Zdravka Bušić, Branko Bačić and Ivan Anušić, each collected more than 30,000 signatures.

Plenković said that his team's platform was also the platform for the coming parliamentary elections.

He said the team's campaign, which would start on March 1, would be constructive and positive, and that after the intraparty elections, set for March 15, the HDZ would be stronger, more united and ready for victory in the parliamentary elections.

Asked by reporters if his coming to the party offices in the company of some 200 people was a demonstration of power and a message to his rivals in intraparty elections, Plenković said that his team enjoyed great support in the party and on the ground and that many wanted to attend the submission of lists with signatures.

Answering a reporter's question, he said that he would be able to continue cooperating with his rivals regardless of a possible exchange of strongly-worded statements.

"Yes, but we first have to make an effort so that the six of us win the elections," he said.

He added that there would be room in the party for Davor Ivo Stier, who is in rival Miro Kovac's campaign team, "also after he loses in these elections."

Asked if he expected agreement to be reached with ethnic minority MPs regarding the adoption of amendments to the Census Act, Plenković said that a meeting of the parliamentary majority would be held on Friday morning and that he expected agreement to be reached on the matter.

He also said that he did not intend to "make any offers" regarding the bill, recalling the government and HDZ's position that the law in question was a technical law that should be adopted so that everyone could prepare for the census.

Noting that the bill had been put to public consultation, Plenković said that the provisions which minority MPs were asking for did not exist in neighbouring countries where Croats are a minority and some of the minority MPs were part of a majority.

He said that there had been no discrimination in the selection of census takers and that some issues could be regulated by instructions to be issued during the census.

He expressed confidence that the law would be adopted by the parliament.

Plenković also said that regardless of possible attempts, nobody would topple the government before the end of the term of the current parliamentary majority and parliament.

"When that happens, we will be the ones to decide about it," he said.

Asked how the government would regulate Sunday work, he said that they wanted to reduce the intensity of work, notably of people who work in shops on Sundays, thus protecting family values.

He stressed that the government was closest to the Austrian model which limits the number of working Sundays.

More HDZ news can be found in the Politics section.