Ružić confirmed as new Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy Minister

In spite of media speculation to the contrary, the governing coalition and parliamentary majority held together to confirm the new Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy Minister. The slim majority also received a vote from a former SDP MP turned independent. This however, led to a slew of accusations of political barter.

In parliament Alen Ružić was confirmed as the new Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy Minister today. After being sworn in, Minister Ružić announced that his first order of business was to resolve the issue unpaid inclusive allowance claims: “Given that we want the number of users to increase as soon as possible, we can safely say that the monthly payout fund will exceed 100 million euros. The 'inclusive allowance' encompasses a range of previous measures. It is extremely important as a fundamental tool in addressing social inequalities and injustices and, therefore, improves the overall social status of marginalized persons.”

Ružić succeeds Marin Piletić, who will now return to his seat in parliament after four years as a member of the cabinet of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. Ružić's confirmation was also commented on by the Prime Minister during his visit to India: “Alen Ružić is an experienced physician and scientist. He is also a professional with acute political acumen. It is important that he take over the ministry and contribute to the resolving of open issues as well as improving the overall situation with regard to social policies, the pension system, the labour market and families.”

There had been speculation that Ružić's confirmation vote could come up short, given the ongoing tensions in the coalition government, specifically between two of its junior partners, the HSLS and the Homeland Movement. On Wednesday HSLS leader Dario Hrebak issued Prime Minister Plenković an ultimatum; either he rid the coalition of Homeland movement MP Josip Dabro, or lose the support of the HSLS. However, in spite of this 77 MPs voted to confirm Ružić, while 56 were against with no abstentions. Among those to vote in favour was former SDP turned independent MP Boška Ban, who brushed aside opposition claims that her vote had been bought by the governing majority: “This was my own, independent decision. This was a responsibility, and I believe that if we want a responsible country we have to provide an opportunity to attempt to fix problems to the benefit of our citizens, and that we finally stop occupying ourselves with ideological divisions and hate, and everything else that our citizens are being forced to listen to in our media for some months now. They deserve better.”

The spat between the HSLS and the Homeland Movement, started when a video recently surfaced in which Dabro was singing the praises of Ustaša leader Ante Pavelić. This prompted Hrebak to issue his ultimatum. However, on Thursday Dabro himself offered to remove himself from parliament under the condition that parliament adopt a law explicitly banning all communist symbols and slogans, as well as the public affirmation of prominent communists, who persecuted, imprisoned and murdered Croatians. And while the HSLS responded that they had long ago adopted a declaration condemning totalitarian regimes, no one from the party has officially taken Dabro up on his offer.

Source: HRT