President Milanović Gives Interview to Nova TV
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović gave an interview to Nova TV, in which he discussed the upcoming parliamentary election and the subsequent consultations with political parties, his relationship with the Prime Minister, pupils’ return to school and a series of other current issues.
A challenging period lies ahead for the President: how will he conduct himself during the campaign and to whom will he first give the mandate to form the next Croatian Government? President Zoran Milanović answered all these questions to Nova TV’s Mislav Bago.
These are the first elections in the past number of years that he will – figuratively speaking – observe from his living room. The President said that, for the first time, he will not be going through the experience personally, adding that the 5th of July is a date that is acceptable to everyone.
“I think it is a fair date that is not problematic to anyone. The presidential election was held on a day when, supposedly by chance, the largest number of citizens was somewhere abroad. The date 12 July is a bit too ripe, a bit rotten,” he explained.
Asked if he thought that this was the best time for the election, the President replied: “I said I didn’t think so, but I’ll stop there.” He went on to say that current times were not favourable for holding the parliamentary election due to uncertainties, and unpredictability, which was why it was important to have the executive power now, and added that “we should not scare people with a new epidemic, which probably will not happen or, if it happens, we will not react in nearly the same way. That was my opinion, but it is the right of the majority to dissolve at any given time.”
In the event that the epidemiological situation deteriorates, the President and Prime Minister can decide to postpone the election.
“I did not contemplate this at all. If someone had hinted at something like this half a year ago, we would have… checked to see if everything was all right with that person. But we’ve been through one incredibly marvellous and monstrous period and I don’t believe we’re going to go through it again. And now you’re asking me to speculate. You’re probably right. During the last two months I have been saying how I think it would be best to approach this from a legal perspective. But ok, they chose a different path,” said President Milanović.
Commenting on claims by a part of the public that he would handle the elections in an insincere fashion, given that he has for years been the leader of the opposition, the President emphasized that this was not the case.
“I have not been the leader of the opposition for years. The last time I watched the elections ‘from my living room’ was in 2003. I can’t erase what I’ve been. I will not support anyone. It remains to be seen whether I will go to the polls at all. My ballot could be decisive,” said the President.
He believes that he is not sending the wrong message and called on the citizens to exercise their right to vote.
“I am in the spotlight all the time and being assessed whether I am biased or not. Why would I even have to [vote], why put myself in a situation in which I would need to tell someone who I voted for? Look at how unusual this situation is. On the one hand, you have the secrecy of the ballot. Everyone has the right to remain silent and is not obliged to give an answer, but the President – who has been in politics for many years – how should he reply to that question? That is extremely unpleasant,” said President Milanović.
The President also spoke about what will take place after the elections.
“I will be a bit conservative here. I will probably not give audience to all representatives who won a seat. The talking, negotiating and whispering with everyone created some distrust in me. What does the President have to discuss with people who need to arrange their political participation and engagement outside this room? They should not go to the President who then tells them, ‘listen, it might not be bad for you to go along with Plenković or Milanović or Bernardić or Škoro’. There is always some mistrust there,” said the President.
President Milanović also spoke about his relationship with the Prime Minister. He said that he cooperated well with Andrej Plenković “despite the fact that the Prime Minister told him several times through the media that he was lying.” He added that such rhetoric has never before been used in Croatian political discourse.
Commenting on claims that he himself has a fast tongue, the President said: “I do have a fast tongue, but I use conventional ammunition. This was against the Hague Convention. I don’t accuse others of lying.” He also said he didn’t mind his parents being mentioned and recalled that his father once sued a member of the šatoraši (2014-2016 Croatian Homeland War veterans tent protest).
“I said that among the people they were huddling with on Savska Street was a person who claimed that my father was the organizer of the murder of Bruno Bušić. And nothing happened. My father sued him. When did I cry and lament? And when did I accuse someone of lying? Well, that’s my kind of ammunition. And I do not shoot at the wounded, at women and children,” President Milanović said, adding that he had not been in contact with the Prime Minister to discuss the matter in private.
He also spoke about the election of the new Attorney General. The President is not pleased that she was chosen at the last minute. He thinks that the new election method is not good.
“The Attorney General must have some authority. He is the most monocratic figure in any system and in the hierarchy of state power. I resent the method. It shouldn’t be done this way,” the President asserted.
He mentioned parents who don’t know if they should send their children to school.
“During lockdown, everyone knew where to place their pawn. Now they are being tactical. Primary education is compulsory and responsibility had to be taken. Nursing homes were opened. Another problem is that a lot of young people take part in competitions; their future in sports depends on this. They are among those who seek to accomplish more and now the system is preventing them from doing so. Why are there no school competitions?” the President asked.
He also said that he spoke with former President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović once after assuming office.
President Milanović said that he would rather not comment on the cat Jerry that his wife mentioned in an earlier interview she gave to Nova TV.
“I’m glad to see a dog or a cat in the hallway, but I don’t have such responsibilities,” he replied.
Source: Dnevnik.hr
