President Milanović: I am committed to order, the protection of human rights and clear-cut rules as to what is allowed and what isn’t
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović viewed the exhibition by author Miljenko Domijan “Od oka k srcu – biljezi sjećanja” in the Klovićevi dvori Gallery. Subsequently, he replied to questions from the press. The journalists were interested in yesterday’s talks with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković during which he, as written in a daily referring to unnamed sources, pontificated and lectured the Prime Minister. “Until now it didn’t occur to anyone to comment in such a way. I didn’t pontificate on anything, because if this were true, it would mean that I warned my interlocutor about something. I acted very transparently”, the President of the Republic stated.
“I am committed to order, the protection of human rights and clear-cut rules as to what is allowed and what isn’t, who can issue commands and orders in a democratic and civilized society. In my opinion, this is very transparent behaviour. If I, as President of the Republic of Croatia, won’t point out problems, who will? The people who are interpreting the Constitution didn’t read it. My question is: who can bring orders in Croatian society and to what extent, which politics authorize this and what is the role of the Croatian Parliament?”, President Milanović added. “My obligation is to caution because in such a situation I feel that the Croatian Parliament has an imperative to set a time frame to grant the Government the authorization and the right to act”, he underlined, and called on all Members of Parliament to act accordingly.
In replying to a journalist whether yesterday was the time and place for such statements, President Milanović said: “Do you think it’s more correct to do it behind someone’s back, to supply information to journalists about what two persons talked about during a tête-à-tête. It was exactly the time and the place. Today is also the time and the place, and tomorrow will be the time and the place. I have been very constructive towards this Government and I can’t see how I can be more constructive. To point out problems, say what isn’t good and what contains a hidden germ of autocracy, and the domination of the executive power over the representative power. After yesterday’s talks with the Prime Minister I haven’t divulged the contents of our talks.
Asked about the closing of the Meggle factory in Osijek, the President answered: “I regret if the Meggle factory will cease production, but that is the Government’s job. Situations like this will occur all over Europe and Croatia, this is difficult and we have to live with it. The Government is not to blame for this. A consolation in this difficult situation is that more or less everyone is experiencing similar problems”, the President noted, and added that next year will be a year of recovery and growth because this isn’t a regular crisis. “The year will be difficult, the budget shortage will be huge, I know that we will all come out of this together. The European Union is dealing well with the current situation,” he said.
President Milanović answered a question about whether he thinks that his relationship with the Prime Minister will be constructive in the next four years. “For my part for sure as it has been until now. I didn’t get involved in the election process and that’s how it will be in the future. I have announced that and that’s how I have functioned in the last fifteen years. People sometimes don’t realize it, but in the end, I manage in a peaceful and civilized way to convince a significant number of people that I do things the right way and to believe it”, he said.
President Milanović refused to comment on the election of a new president of SDP reminding that “ever since I have been elected President of the Republic of Croatia I don’t comment such matters”.