On the occasion of the initiation of the procedure to elect a new state attorney general for the Republic of Croatia, we publish the statement of the President of the Republic Zoran Milanovi\u0107:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, Article 125: \u2018The State Attorney’s Office is an autonomous and independent judicial body authorized and obliged to act against perpetrators of criminal and other punishable acts, to undertake legal actions to protect the property of the Republic of Croatia, and to file legal remedies for the protection of the Constitution and rights\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such a constitutional position and task of the State Attorney’s Office, together with the constitutional duty that I have as President of the Republic \u2013 which is to ensure regular and coordinated action, and the stability of the state government \u2013 are the reasons why I consider it necessary to point out the great importance of the election and appointment of a new state attorney general of the Republic of Croatia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without going into the procedure for electing and appointing the state attorney general \u2013 which is prescribed by the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia and which, I believe, will be respected \u2013 it is my duty to warn: the State Attorney\u2019s Office of the Republic of Croatia can entirely fulfil its constitutional position and task only if the person, I emphasize, appointed to this position, is politically completely independent and non-partisan, a proven expert and qualified, and has an unblemished professional and personal reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every connection, present or past, of the state attorney general with politics and party interests would mean a dangerous violation of the autonomy and independence of the State Attorney\u2019s Office of the Republic of Croatia, which would undoubtedly raise doubts and suspicion regarding that institution\u2019s future actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because the state attorney general must have a free hand to mercilessly fight against crime, corruption and misuse of public funds, regardless of who the perpetrator is, but they must also have the courage \u2013 which is equally important \u2013 to resist any influence and pressure, regardless of whom it comes from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A state attorney general possessing such characteristics is of national interest for the Republic of Croatia. Croatian citizens rightly expect an impulse in detecting, prosecuting and sanctioning those responsible for violations of the law. The State Attorney\u2019s Office of the Republic of Croatia is not the only institution that can and must put an end to all forms of violation of the law, the same is expected from the executive and judicial authorities. But the role of the state attorney general is crucial for an independent and consistent fight against corruption, preferential treatment and misuse of public funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is exactly why I emphasize the importance of the election of a new state attorney general, because the collapse of the independence and efficiency of the State Attorney\u2019s Office of the Republic of Croatia, as well as the loss of public trust in the State Attorney\u2019s Office of the Republic of Croatia, which we have been witnessing in recent years, must not continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guided by my constitutional task and the desire to reduce and stop the scourge of corruption and misuse of public funds in Croatia \u2013 which is dangerously destroying Croatian society as a whole and endangering the security, development and prosperity of the Republic of Croatia \u2013 I will follow the election of the new state attorney general and without hesitation warn whether that election guaranteed the fulfilment of the constitutional position of the State Attorney\u2019s Office of the Republic of Croatia as an autonomous and independent body.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Without going into the procedure for electing and appointing the state attorney general \u2013 which is prescribed by the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia and which, I believe, will be respected \u2013 it is my duty to warn: the State Attorney\u2019s Office of the Republic of Croatia can entirely fulfil its constitutional position and task only if the person, I emphasize, appointed to this position, is politically completely independent and non-partisan, a proven expert and qualified, and has an unblemished professional and personal reputation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":27700,"template":"","news-cat":[12],"class_list":["post-27701","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-cat-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n