ZAGREB, July 28, 2019 - The Croatian World Congress (HSK), an organisation of Croatian expatriates, called on Saturday on the Croatian government and Croat representatives in the Bosnian government to create programmes to encourage the return of expatriates, also asking to be guaranteed six seats in the Croatian parliament.

At its annual assembly in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the HSK said it was incomprehensible that Croatian citizens abroad were prevented from voting because of the small number of polling stations and the impossibility to vote electronically or by post.

The HSK said expatriates should be represented in Croatia's parliament by one member each from Australia, South America, the US, and Canada, and by two from Europe.

It's incomprehensible and damaging that Croatian expatriates have fewer rights than ethnic minorities in Croatia, the HSK said, adding that MPs from the diaspora would help to strengthen the ties between it and the homeland.

The HSK went on to say that it was high time for "responsible institutions in the homeland" to start offering attractive programmes to returnees which, it added, would improve the demographic situation and revive the Croatian economy.

The HSK also called on all Croatian institutions to stand up for Croats in BiH, saying that despite being a constituent people, they were reduced to a neglected ethnic minority in BiH.

More Diaspora news can be found in the dedicated section.

ZAGREB, July 20, 2019 - The Croatian Parliament's Committee on the Constitution, Standing Orders and Political System decided that conditions had not been met to convene an extraordinary session of Parliament following opposition motions for a vote of no confidence in government ministers.

The Committee had been asked by Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković to say whether an extraordinary session could be convened in this case. Jandroković cited a constitutional provision saying that during Parliament's recess sessions can be called only by the head of state or government or by a majority of MPs.

This decision means that during Parliament's summer break it will not be possible to take a vote of no confidence in Health Minister Milan Kujundžić, as demanded by the MOST party.

The Committee's deputy chair, Peđa Grbin of the Social Democratic Party, said that he would turn to the Constitutional Court. "You are ignoring the article of the Constitution that says that a debate on a no-confidence motion must be held within 30 days of submission of such motion, and I emphasise the word 'must'. There is no mention that this does not refer to recesses," he told the Committee's chair, Željko Reiner of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

Reiner responded by saying that under the Constitution only a majority of all MPs, or 76, could call a session of Parliament to discuss a no-confidence motion, and not a fifth of lawmakers as in this case.

More Politics news can be found in the dedicated section.

ZAGREB, July 20, 2019 - The Croatian parliament confirmed seven new government ministers and two deputy prime ministers at an extraordinary session on Friday, with all but three opposition MPs boycotting the vote.

Ivan Malenica is the new Minister of Public Administration, Vesna Bedeković has become the Minister for Demography, Family, Youth and Social Policy, and Marija Vučković was confirmed as the Minister of Agriculture.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs will be led by Gordan Grlić Radman.

Mario Banožić was confirmed as the Minister of State Assets and Marko Pavić as the Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds.

The parliamentary majority also voted in favour of Interior Minister Davor Božinović and Finance Minister Zoran Marić becoming deputy prime ministers. Božinović will be responsible for the coordination of human rights and Marić will be in charge of economic affairs.

The new Labour and Pension System Minister Josip Aladrović was also confirmed by the 151-seat parliament on Friday, with 79 votes in favour of and one against. The vote for Aladrović was held half an hour after the legislature confirmed six new government ministers and two deputy prime ministers as part of the reshuffle plan proposed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

The vote on the seventh new minister was delayed due to a procrastinated debate by the Committee on Labour, Pension System and Social Partnership. The committee eventually supported the ministerial nominee by a majority of votes.

The lion's share of the Opposition boycotted the vote on the new ministers in the parliament.

Some of the opposition leaders reiterated at the beginning of the extraordinary parliamentary session that this government shake-up was actually an attempt to cover up corruption.

The only three opposition MPs attending the vote were independent Marko Vučetić, Goran Aleksić (SNAGA) and Snježana Sabolek (Živi Zid), and they voted against.

More Politics news can be found in the dedicated section.

ZAGREB, July 16, 2019 - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Tuesday that he hoped that an extraordinary parliamentary sitting with a government reshuffle on its agenda might be held by the end of this week.

"I hope that the Sabor's meeting will be by the end of this week, the consultations are still under way," Jandroković told reporters while entering Government House in Zagreb on Tuesday afternoon.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković is holding consultations on his plan to rearrange his cabinet, following the resignations of two ministers and the fact that the current Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Marija Pejčinović Burić, in the autumn will assume the post of Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.

On Monday afternoon, the Prime Minister's chief of staff, Zvonimir Frka-Petešić, said that the public would be informed of everything in a timely fashion upon the conclusion of the consultations.

Following the decision of Goran Marić to announce his resignation as State Assets Minister on Monday morning after a contract-signing ceremony in the town of Novi Vinodolski, Jandroković said that he could not comment on that as a surprise but admitted that "it has not been an easy situation".

The resignation tendered by State Assets Minister Marić ensued after his talks with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on that step a few days ago and it is not a surprise, the government's public relations office says in a press release issued on Monday afternoon.

The government said that on Monday morning Marić sent his letter of resignation to PM Plenković and afterwards informed the public about that move.

More news about parliament can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 3, 2019 - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković began an official visit to Japan by meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, parliament said in a press release on Monday.

The two officials said political relations were very good and friendly, and welcomed the political dialogue established at all levels, notably parliamentary.

As for economic cooperation, they cited several good examples and underlined the joint wish to boost it further.

Jandroković and Abe singled out as positive examples of Japanese investment in Croatia the Kali Tuna and Yazaki companies. Jandroković invited Japanese investors to follow their example, saying they were welcome in Croatia.

Abe mentioned the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where numerous Croatian athletes are expected, which will be an excellent opportunity to further promote Croatia and its tourism as well as contribute to more Japanese tourists visiting Croatia.

The two officials also talked about Croatia's EU presidency in 2020, concluding that it would provide a good framework for further Croatia-Japan and EU-Japan cooperation.

Jandroković invited Abe to visit Croatia.

More news about relations between Croatia and Japan can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, May 8, 2019 - The chairman of the parliamentary committee on home affairs and national security, Ranko Ostojić of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said on Wednesday that he would ask state agencies for their position on alleged plans by former police IT specialist Franjo Varga, a suspect in the fake text messages affair, to monitor Interior Minister Davor Božinović's emails.

Ostojić said that he was surprised that the president and the prime minister did not intend to call a session of the National Security Council despite an abundance of information on possible threats to state institutions.

Noting that he would request an opinion of the relevant state services, Ostojić said: "Ongoing proceedings in the fake text messages affair are confidential and yet we have information leaks in some weeklies and dailies."

Ostojić said that the committee would discuss the matter once the requested information was obtained but noted that he needed the consent of a part of the committee on home affairs and national security to call a thematic session on the fake texts affair.

"The president and the prime minister say that they have no information on what is going on. That's security for you, hearing the prime minister, who is in charge of all services that need to report to him, say that he has no information. It could be that I'm informed better than the prime minister. This definitely deserves a serious session and serious answers," said Ostojić. He added that he believed the current developments were due to infighting in the ruling HDZ party.

Ostojić also expressed dissatisfaction with cooperation with Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović, saying that he had not attended any of the committee's sessions. "That says enough about his attitude to the parliamentary body in charge of overseeing the police's work," he said.

Prosecutors contend that Franjo Varga created fake text messages, including for former football mogul Zdravko Mamić, and that last September Blaž Curić, a close friend of Deputy Parliament Speaker and HDZ vice-president Milijan Brkić, warned Varga that he was under investigation.

The Nacional weekly, which has been following the fake texts scandal for months, said in its latest issue that in March 2018, Varga's co-defendant Curić, asked Varga to monitor Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović's emails, which Varga reportedly refused to do.

Police said recently they had brought charges against Brkić, his brother Jozo Brkić, Varga and Curić, for committing cybernetic offences against several persons.

The police allegedly found out about computer hacking by examining the computers and documents seized in the case against Varga and Curić.

The prosecutorial authorities have said that the investigation is confidential for the sake of protection of the private lives of the women whose computer systems were hacked.

More news about Interior Ministry can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, April 8, 2019 - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said in Vienna on Monday Croatia would continue to insist that the European Union keeps focus on Southeast Europe, so that it too could be integrated with the EU system once aspirants meet the membership conditions.

Jandroković is taking part in a conference of European Union parliament speakers which is being held in Vienna on Monday and Tuesday.

Th conference will bring together parliament speakers of the EU member states, the European Parliament, EU candidate countries, as well as parliament presidents from Western Balkan countries -- candidates for EU membership -- as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina which does not have candidate status but was invited as a special guest.

The heads of parliament will over two session, organised as part of Austria's EU presidency, talk about the enlargement policy and challenges of the May EP election.

Jandroković told the press before the conference that it was exceptionally important to Croatia for the EU to realise how important its neighbourhood was.

"We want to see security, stability and economic prosperity in our neighbourhood. I will explain Croatia's position and underscore that we are prepared to support European prospects and future membership for all our neighbouring countries, after they meet the necessary criteria of course," Jandroković said.

Jandroković also said that Croatia wanted all potential members to be assessed according to their own merits, adding that Zagreb was prepared to assist them with its experience and knowledge.

Later today, the Croatian Parliament Speaker is expected to meet the President of the Austrian National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka. Apart from parliamentary cooperation, their talks are also expected to focus on the commemoration at Bleiburg.

More news about Western Balkans can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 19, 2019 - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Tuesday that during its chairmanship of the European Union Croatia would strongly advocate the EU integration of Western Balkans based on individual merit and fulfilment of membership criteria.

"In less than a year Croatia will for the first time chair the Council of the European Union, and enlargement will be one of our four priorities, along with economic growth and employment, connectivity and security," Jandroković said at a conference of parliament speakers of Adriatic-Ionian Initiative member states in the Montenegrin coastal town of Budva.

The Adriatic-Ionian Initiative was launched in Ancona in 2000, bringing together nine countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia. It serves as a forum for exchanging political views and promoting multilateral cooperation in areas such as transport, maritime affairs, tourism, education, protection of the environment and cultural heritage, and combating all forms of organised crime.

"Croatia is particularly interested in cooperation in the Adriatic region. The Adriatic is a major resource for us and its potential for tourism is treated as a national priority, so we will emphasise the importance of cooperation through this forum and bilateral meetings," Jandroković told Croatian reporters covering the conference.

On the margins of the conference, Jandroković met with Albanian Parliament Speaker Gramoz Ruci, expressing support for Albania's EU membership bid and reform efforts. He said that Croatia was willing to continue to provide Albania with professional and technical assistance, especially through parliamentary cooperation, inviting Ruci to visit Croatia.

The two officials agreed that the initiative was a good framework for cooperation in the Adriatic-Ionian region.

"Albania is important to us because we share the Adriatic region and we have a problem with refuse coming from Albania. This forum is a chance for us to discuss environmental protection in the Adriatic because the Adriatic is a very important resource that ensures tourism development and it won't remain this way unless we look after it ecologically," Jandroković said.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Duško Marković said in his opening remarks that dialogue was a necessary precondition for strengthening the partnership and promoting cooperation in tourism, culture, sustainable fisheries and clean energy in the Adriatic-Ionian region.

More news about Croatia and the Western Balkans region can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, January 15, 2019 - The parliamentary Domestic Policy and National Security Committee did not conclude that the SOA (Security and Intelligence Agency) committed any abuse in the treatment of former presidential advisor Mate Radeljić, chairman Ranko Ostojić said after a committee meeting on Tuesday.

With two votes against, the committee endorsed an oversight report by the office of the National Security Council and took note of a report by SOA, and we did not conclude that SOA committed any abuse, Ostojić told reporters.

He said the Radeljić case was over for the committee. "Everything he may wish to present as his truth, Radeljić could have done so at the DORH prosecution office."

Ostojić said Radeljić was not invited to the committee meeting given the committee's powers. The committee can oversee SOA but we don't have the right to be an inquiry commission, he added.

Radeljić's dismissal as the presidential advisor on domestic affairs caused a storm on the political scene. After being fired in December, he said in a press release he was informed about his dismissal by the SOA director's chief of staff, Davor Franić, in a Zagreb coffee shop. Radeljić claimed he was threatened that he would be run over by a car and that he was told "the service will protect the president in every sense" from his possible actions after the dismissal. He also claimed President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović told him he did not fit her plans because he was an obstacle in her relations with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

Radeljić's claims were dismissed by both the president's office and SOA.

A few days ago, SOA director Danijel Markić resolutely dismissed the claims that SOA had threatened anyone. "We don't do that, the service doesn't make death threats," he said, denying that the Radeljić-Franić meeting took place.

Markić attended today's meeting of the Domestic Policy and National Security Committee but did not speak to the press.

More news on the national security issues can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, December 28, 2018 - Almost 1,100 citizens contacted the Croatian parliament's Citizens Service during 2018, for various purposes such as queries, petitions, comments, complaints or suggestions, according to the statistics presented by that office.

Of the 1,081 citizens who contacted the Sabor's Citizens Service this year, 339 contacts were about specific questions, whereas 742 sent letters or telephoned to make their comments, complaints or suggestions.

The Citizens Services has reported that people contacted them to express their opinions on certain laws, parliamentary debates, the behaviour of lawmakers, party policies etc.

Some of those who contacted the office wanted to ask for assistance or to complain about other state institutions.

Of 339 queries, a third were questions sent directly to members of parliament through web applications.

The Service says that it responds to all those questions and suggestions within 24 hours.

Apart from that form of communication, ordinary citizens can also visit the parliament and thus gain a better insight into the functioning of the national legislature.

This year, 23,500 visitors used the opportunity to visit the parliament within tours organised for a total 576 groups.

The Citizens Service was established "with a view to improve the two-way communication between citizens and the Parliament and in order to assert that the Sabor is committed to openness".

The service "maintains direct contacts with citizens. It offers answers to citizens’ queries, petitions and letters and organizes visits for citizens wishing to take an inside tour of the Parliament building or to attend plenary sessions. The Service carries out the programme of volunteering in the Parliament and assists schools in implementing civic education curriculum," according to information on the parliament's web site.

More news on the Croatian parliament can be found in our Politics section.