The day for conflict of interest
The Conflict of Interest Commission launched a case against Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Minister of Interior Davor Božinović. Commission argues that they violated principles of good governing and repeatedly ignored to provide documentation related to the trip to the European People's Party Congress in Helsinki last year. More on jutarnji.hr.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković commented saying that the Commission's action was unnecessary. "This whole story is a fabrication with one purpose and goal - to cause political damage to me and the officials in question," the prime minister told the press outside the government headquarters. He said that the Commission had no reason to take this action considering the documents which the government and his HDZ party had submitted to it, adding that initiating proceedings for a breach of office was unwarranted. "What I'm saying was thoroughly and clearly explained in correspondence with the Commission. It's true and it's a fact, all else is an unnecessary fabrication," the prime minister said.
The press were shown a government report on the official trip indicating that the prime minister had forgone his per diems, that the accommodation costs had not been paid by the government and that there was no cost for the government.
The Constitutional Court has concluded that there is no reason for it to act on a motion by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which a couple of months ago wanted the parliamentary Committee for the Constitution, Standing Orders and Political System to discuss Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's conflict of interest, which the majority, however, rejected. SDP lawmakers interpreted that rejection as a blow to the democratic multi-party system and submitted a motion to the Constitutional Court and on July 4 walked out of the committee meeting after the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) rejected for the fourth time to discuss Plenkovic's conflict of interest case. "Plenković asked that the president of the Conflict of Interest Commission, Nataša Novaković, be exempted (from his case), and all we want is for the Committee on the Constitution or anyone else to decide in whose remit it is to decide on the exemption," MP Pedja Grbin (SDP) said then.
President condemns all forms of violence
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović condemned sexual, domestic and any other form of violence after Damir Škaro, former HDZ (EPP) MP and former bronze medalist at the Seoul Olympics in boxing, was arrested on suspicion of rape. The President encourages all women to report any form of violence and expects prompt and effective action by the relevant institutions, was added from her office. It is a political problem because President reacted after the women’s forum of opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP-S&D) called her to "urgently and resolutely distance herself" from Damir Škaro.
Government proposes organisation of Coast Guard
Croatian government adopted the Proposal of Decision on the organisation of the Croatian Coast Guard at the closed part of the session. As this item was marked as "confidential" on the agenda, the contents of the proposal for that decision were not published.
Pensioners' party supports national pension
The Croatian Pensioners' Party (HSU) supports the introduction of a national pension allowance but doubts that it will eventuate because the matter was raised before every election but was never resolved, HSU leader Silvano Hrelja said.
HNB: GDP growth might pick up in Q3
Croatia's economic activity continued to increase in the second quarter of 2019, albeit at a markedly lower rate than at the start of the year, and there are indications that real GDP growth might pick up in the third quarter, the Croatian National Bank (HNB) said in a press release from a meeting of its Council. The HNB Council discussed a report on the latest economic and monetary developments and the management of international reserves in the first half of the year.
Real GDP grew by 0.2% in the second quarter compared with the first quarter, while compared with the second quarter of 2018 the real growth rate was 2.4%. The available high-frequency indicators suggest that real GDP growth might accelerate in the third quarter, the central bank said.