Mayor of Zagreb Milan Bandić does not want any positions in the Government, State-owned companies or State institutions. By growing his caucus he wants to add to stability of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's Government. On the other hand, he expects the State to support infrastructural projects in Zagreb as well as tax breaks for local government units. Comments of Social-Liberal Party (HSLS) and People's Party (HNS) heads on growth of his caucus only show the parties are nervous due to their poor rating and fear that they will disappear from Croatia's political scene next year at EP elections.
That is how several close associates of Bandić see the comments of HSLS president Darinko Kosor and HNS president Ivan Vrdoljak, who have recently announced leaving the Government is Bandić enters.
Vrdoljak called on relevant authorities to investigate whether there was foul play in transfer of some HNS members to the Party of Labor and Solidarity, while Kosor clearly said in an interview with JUTARNJI LIST yesterday that he would leave the ruling coalition if Bandić enters the Government.
Deal
Bandić reacted to Kosor's warning yesterday, stressing that HSLS head is "an excellent leader."
-Perhaps we were thinking about participating in the Government, but considering his threat, we are seriously thinking about not participating at all and I think we will opt for that. I cancelled the caucus meeting slated for tonight after the report was released, it discouraged me. Kosor is too important in the coalition for me to play around - noted Bandić ironically yesterday.
His close associates revealed that his communication with Plenković has intensified recently and asserted that they did not discuss the possibility of Bandić entering the Government.
We know that the Zagreb City Assembly will discuss the settlement with the State today, where the Finance Ministry has to return HRK 260 million to Zagreb City budget, which is result of negotiations of Zagreb City officials and Government representatives. Besides that, they will talk about possible tax cuts for local government units with Finance Minister, while Bandić's party should soon present its model of curricular reform. At the same time, Bandić is calling for fast reaction of all relevant institutions with regard to financing of projects in Zagreb with EU funds.
-Bandić would not be recruiting if he was not up to something. These things are on the menu and negotiations are afoot, free of blackmail. However, it is clear that the caucus is expanded in preparation for 2020 and parliamentary elections - our sources revealed. Still, Bandić's party talked yesterday mostly about comments of Kosor and Vrdoljak.
Nervous
Plenković recently said that Bandić did not demand or offer anything, which is true. Unlike his partners from the HNS and the HSLS. The HNS has 4 MPs and received two ministries, DPM and positions in State-owned companies. The HSLS, or Darinko Kosor, received the HRT and a position in the National Bank (HNB) - noted Bandić's party colleagues. As for statements of Vrdoljak and the HNS, Party of Labor and Solidarity reminded about events from June 2016.
- The HNS entered the Sabor thanks to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and then betrayed the SDP to join forces with the HDZ. The party took in the Rijeka City Assembly member who entered the Assembly as an independent candidate and is now part of the HNS. Perhaps Vrdoljak was thinking about that when he called on relevant institutions to investigate takeover of MPs - noted sources from Bandić's party. Milan Bandić announced holding a press conference on the situation in the Sabor at end of November, with many of his party colleagues interpreting this as announcement of "additional reinforcements." They are convinced that this makes some smaller partners of the HDZ nervous.
Only on paper
- We are in the streets all the time, especially in the Zagreb area, and it is expected that citizens recognize this. That is why they are leaving the HNS and the HSLS, since the parties exist only on paper. In that situation, with EP elections drawing near, they become nervous. Perhaps problems bring the HSLS and the HNS together and the two parties decide to join forces at elections - predicted Bandić's associates.
Talks with Finance Minister on possible tax changes that will affect local government units will take place soon
"HNS has 4 MPs and got two ministries as well as positions in State-owned companies. We have ten MPs and are not demanding anything"
If Bandić enters the Government, the HNS will likely leave
-The HNS will not participate in the Government if Milan Bandić enters and HNS Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction and Physical Planning Predrag Štromar and Minister of Science, Education and Sports Blaženka Divjak will leave the Government - said HNS MP Stjepan Čuraj commenting on speculations that Milan Bandić, who expanded his caucus from one to 10 MPs, could call for a position in the Government. Čuraj noted that probability is very low.
-We do not believe it will happen. We placed our trust in Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and his Government some 18 months ago and we absolutely do not expect it to happen. However, if we are speculating, there is absolutely no room for supporting Milan Bandić in the Government or his associates from Neovisni za Hrvatsku in Zagreb City Assembly - said Čuraj.
The HNS would not take part in that Government because, as Čuraj stressed, the party joined the Government motivated by education. "Those who are against any change set up obstacles, including mister Bandić. We surely cannot continue doing what we promised the citizens if someone who is against it joins the Government," he said and added that "he did not hear a good reason" from his former party colleague Marija Puh, who joined Bandić's caucus.
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) caucus head Branko Bačić believes that "growth of Milan Bandić's caucus speaks volumes about political parties from which new members came," but stressed this could not cause a reshuffle in the ruling coalition. He said that "nothing changes and we are not talking about it. We will likely be forced to spend days telling everyone that there is no Government reshuffle." He called on his coalition partner Darinko Kosor to "continue cooperating with the ruling coalition" and added that Kosor is a very fair coalition partner.
(Željka Godeč)