21 February, 2022 - Until a new minister is appointed, state secretary Dunja Magaš will head the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković decided on Monday.

Prime Minister Plenković decided today that the state secretary in the ministry Magaš will manage the ministry until a new minister is appointed, government spokesman Marko Milić told Hina.

The prime minister's decision comes after Horvat stepped down in the wake of being arrested and being remanded in custody, accused by the USKOK anti-corruption office of abuse of office and powers.

With reference to Deputy Prime Minister Boris Milošević's resignation, the government referred to Plenković's statement on Saturday that ministerial positions were always in the remit of the prime minister, from the very first day, as they are in these circumstances, which also applies to Labour Minister Josip Aladrović and Milošević.

SDSS president Milorad Pupovac said earlier today that Milošević had tendered his resignation after unofficial information that he is suspected of being involved in a scandal of currying favour in issuing grants.

The government confirmed that a meeting of the parliamentary majority would be held on Tuesday to discuss the current political situation, adding that the parliamentary majority is firm and stable and there would not be any snap election.

The presidency and national council of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) are set to meet later today.

ZAGREB, 18 July, 2021 -  The head of the fund for the post-quake reconstruction, Damir Vanđelić, said on Sunday that the size of the new dwellings to be provided to people, who were left homeless in the devastating quakes in 2020, would depend on the number of the household's members, as envisaged by the relevant law.

As far as the start of the construction of those dwellings is concerned, this depends on decisions to be made by the Construction Ministry, Vanđelić told the commercial N1 broadcaster.

Commenting on the procedure, Vanđelić said that there had so far been 12,000 applications submitted for reconstruction, and 19 final decisions had been made on the demolition of the damaged property, and 640 final decisions on disbursement of the financial grants.

He said that all the time the Fund urged the ministry to step up the procedure.

He also informed the broadcaster that HRK 33 million had been spent via the fund for reconstruction costs  plus HRK 26 million for emergency works paid out through the ministry.

Vanđelić said that he would leave the fund once it got into full swing and demonstrated important  elements in its workings such as efficiency, transparency.

(€1 = HRK 7.5)

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