President Milanović on Government Reshuffle: It’s up to the Prime Minister and Result of Series of Events even Criminal
Following a commemoration marking the 31st anniversary of the “Plitvice” action, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović responded to press questions. Asked about his thoughts on the announced Cabinet reshuffle and speculations about Davor Božinović being the new Defense Minister, he answered: “I don’t know, we haven’t discussed it”. In relation to the possible merging of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs, and the departure of Minister Banožić he stated: “I don’t think there’s a chance he goes. Plenković won’t replace the best. Someone asks the Prime Minister, he says there will be a Cabinet reshuffle, but that’s up to him. A reshuffle is a series of events, criminal circumstances and a bit of everything”.
“I haven’t spoken to Minister Božinović about the reshuffle and political moves, and if I had, I wouldn’t tell you. We have known each other for a long time, we have a good relationship, but he is a member of a political government, his loyalty lies there, and mine elsewhere – the Constitution and the citizens”, President Milanović stated in Plitvice who was there in the company of Minister Božinović.
Asked a second time about the possibility of Minister Banožić being replaced, he added: “Why are you asking me, will Plenković replace this guy? No, he won’t replace him, unfortunately, damage to Croatian structures continues, such a level of incompetence and criminogenic behaviour is unprecedented. I’ll repeat, it’s terrifying that court judgements are being ignored, for example, the judgement on the illegal forced retirement of Colonel Burčul. And no one suffers the consequences”.
Asked if the two ministries should merge, President Milanović stated: “It’s up to them. I wouldn’t abolish the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs after all these years, because it deals with a generation of people close to retirement, most of them. We will talk about this in about twenty years’ time, that’s not the topic at this moment”.
He also commented on Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman’s statement on Russian President Vladimir Putin being a war criminal. “I expect him to prepare the material to bring an indictment against him and have him arrested. But ask the Minister what he meant by that. I have never commented on Putin, neither before or now. For me, there exists Russia as a very dangerous state, which is now evident. A state which should be dealt with differently. Putin’s leaving will not change that, some general could take his place in a month or two, or a year. Then you don’t know who you’re dealing with, but Russia stays. A country with 6,000 nuclear warheads, and a different kind of political culture. I don’t expect anything from Russia. I have expectations from our Allies, from those who protect us, in the first place the United States, which, generally speaking, I consider a family. Russia isn’t. Russia attacked Ukraine, that’s against international law, that’s bad, that’s lethal, people are being killed. And Ukraine is unfortunately the biggest victim.”
Asked if the investigation into the unmanned aerial vehicle that crashed in Zagreb is over and if he is satisfied with the results of the investigation, the President reminded once again of the stupidities that the Defense Ministter said about that case, and called on the Prime Minister to make public the results of the investigation, namely the findings of the Forensic Science Centre Ivan Vučetić.
“I was briefed on all the findings of the army, as he was. However, the State Attorney’s Office (DORH) is formally conducting the investigation, and since other bodies are also involved in the investigation such as the Forensic Science Centre Ivan Vučetić whose findings were completed eight days ago, let him convene a press conference to show us what happened and whether it indeed contained explosives or did someone upset the Croatian people”, the President noted, and wondered why this topic gradually disappeared. “I’d say that they said stupid things instead of saying they lied. I told them – don’t go public until we get the findings. I want the findings in writing. I want an expert analysis! I know the results, but I won’t disclose them. I didn’t earlier. I’m trying to act responsibly”, President Milanović stated in concluding his statement.