Opposition reacts to published messages between Ivan Turudić and Josipa Rimac

After new information about Ivan Turudić's meetings with people accused of many criminal offenses, the entire opposition is unanimous that he should not lead the state attorney's office, and some are of the opinion that he has no place in the judiciary either. Parliament is expected to vote on Turudić's appointment to the position of Chief State Attorney on Wednesday. And while the dust surrounding his secret meetings with fugitive Zdravko Mamić has not yet settled, details with new actors have emerged in the public eye. 

Namely, according to the Jutarnji List newspaper, from 2016 to 2020, Ivan Turudić exchanged cordial messages with Josipa Rimac, now Pleslić, who is accused in another case - "Hey my joy", Josipa Rimac wrote, among other things, to the then president of the Zagreb County Court, Ivan Turudić. "Hey beautiful", he responded - which sheds new light on the nature of their relationship, which Turudić called only superficial.

According to the opposition Ivan Turudić lied when he presented himself to the Parliamentary Committee for the Judiciary.

“I can't say I'm especially surprised, because the entire procedure was an absolute farce. It is clear that everything happening now, that has opened up and we have a chance to read, raise many questions on if Ivan Turudić will be independent in his work, but who will believe in him anymore and his work. But the situation is no longer in the hands of Ivan Turudić, it is in the hands of Andrej Plenković, so we should wait for Wednesday. It is hard for me to fortune tell,” said Committee President Mišel Jakšić from the Social Democratic Party.

The masks have come off said Social Democratic Party leader Peđa Grbin.

“Who can guarantee that in the same manner he didn't get involved with other criminals and God only knows how many were released, because people like Turudić practice in the Croatian judiciary. And the Croatian Democratic Union either tolerates all of this, or pushes it on purpose,” said Grbin.

“He lied about everything he was asked at the Committee,” repeated Sandra Benčić from the Možemo party, adding that State Court Council should initiate disciplinary proceedings against Turudić.

“In my opinion he can't even be a judge any more. I expect Andrej Plenković, who proposed him and surely knew all of this, to explain what his motivation was to propose him for the Chief State Attorney, considering the fact that absolutely everybody knew what kind of a package Turudić is arriving with,” said Benčić.

A vote on the Chief State Attorney has been announced for Wednesday. Does the MOST party plan to prevent this with some initiative?

“The opposition can't do much but vote against, so we can't halt the voting. I don't know what else we can do. Voting is scheduled for Wednesday and only those in government can pull the candidate. We can't do anything,” said Nikola Grmoja.

Source: HRT