Milanović explains why he did not attend Statehood Day celebrations

On Thursday the Croatian President once again did not participate in this year’s Statehood Day celebrations. From 1990 until 2002 Statehood Day was marked on May 30th. This was changed in 2002 by the Government of Ivica Račan, which moved the Statehood Day to June 25th, and May 30th was renamed the Day of Croatian Parliament, and reduced to the status of a memorial day, meaning a working day.

On Friday the City of Zagreb celebrated its patron saint, the Virgin Mary of the Stone Gate. On the occasion a special session of the city assembly was held, which was attended by both Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Zoran Milanović. The two once again did not acknowledge the other and avoided any form of contact. With this coming on the heels of the president’s decision to not attend yesterday’s Statehood Day celebrations, reporters Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to comment on the president's decision to ignore Statehood Day celebrations: “Ask him yourselves what he was doing yesterday. That has nothing to do with me. We mark Statehood Day, and don't concern ourselves with what others do.”

When asked to clarify his decision, the president said he was being consistent and fulfilling his campaign promises.

“Statehood Day? This has to be the fifth consecutive year in which I as president have done exactly what I said I would do in my campaign. And that is that I will not in any way mark this so-called holiday, which in fact is a selfish ceremony of one political party, forced through by a corrupt and bought off majority in that session of parliament, because it is not Statehood Day but rather the Day of Croatian Parliament. Whoever wants to mark that day is free to do so, and I will not stand in their way. I said that during my campaign, just as I said I would not hand out pardons. And that's what I'm doing, and the citizens elected me,” the president responded.

Source: HRT