Prime minister dismisses claims of conflict of interest

The Conflict of Interest Commission has decided to not initiate procedures against Prime Minister Andrej Plenković for a conflict of interest over employing his cousin at the Croatian Tourism Office in Munich, because he had no say in the selection of personnel of the office.

A case will also not be opened regarding the employment of the prime minister's uncle at the Biokovo Nature Park. Instead a case against Minister Tomislav Ćorić has been opened, since it was he who decided on the appointment, without giving any reason.

However, the appointment of the Prime Minister's best man, Igor Pokaz, who was appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom, will be investigated. The Commission believes that the prime minister should have informed the public and the bodies involved in the appointment process. Although, Pokaz is a career diplomat who has served in Moscow, Brussels, and New York, the commission said the close connection to the prime minister should have been disclosed before he was confirmed.

"I propose that in this case a procedure against Prime Minister Plenković be opened for having avoided informing the public about his activities as the prime minister. While on the other hand, he consciously avoided informing the responsible bodies about his relationship with those people," said Davorin Ivanjek, a member of the Conflict of Interest Commission.

Prime Minister Plenković said that he would not resign from the role for which he was democratically elected and subsequently confirmed by the Croatian Parliament. On the other had, he said there were many similar cases like this one. And if that was how the law was going to be interpreted, then he should recuse myself of all nominations in the diplomatic services.

"I think the committee should continue to work according to the law. But we must also look at the purpose of the commission. This is an example of how you have a case filed by a political opponent, which is absolutely banal. To open a procedure for this case is nonsense," said the prime minister.

Source: HRT