Prime Minister Plenković announces cabinet change: Alen Ružić to replace Marin Piletić

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced on Monday that Minister of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy Marin Piletić is leaving the government. He will be replaced by Alen Ružić, the current director of KBC Rijeka.

Speaking after a session of the HDZ Presidency and National Committee, Plenković said the decision was mutual and had been discussed over several months.

"I spoke with Minister Piletić, who has been somewhat exhausted with the workload in his department. In the meantime, I also spoke with Professor Alen Ružić — currently director of Rijeka Clinical Hospital, former vice-rector at the University of Rijeka, and HDZ candidate for Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, where he won 47 percent of the vote. We agreed that Mr. Piletić, after almost four years in government, would return to Parliament, and that Alen Ružić would take over with new energy and expertise," Plenković said.

Piletić’s departure comes shortly after the Administrative Court in Zagreb issued a non-final ruling affecting the inclusive allowance. The ruling states that heirs may be entitled to payments if it is determined that the deceased applicant had the right to the allowance. It is estimated that around 15,000 people applied for the benefit but died before a decision was issued by the social welfare system.

Plenković praised Piletić’s achievements during his tenure:

"I want to thank Minister Piletić for his many accomplishments. We have made significant progress across multiple areas — from record employment levels and active labor market measures, to the large-scale implementation of the Zažela program, construction of centers for the elderly in 18 counties, and increases in all social benefits, including major advancements for people with disabilities through the Personal Assistance Act and the Inclusive Allowance Act."