Tomislav Ćorić new finance minister, Primorac leaves for EIB

Marko Primorac, deputy prime minister and finance minister, it has been learned, will leave the government by the end of the week and take over the position of vice president of the European Investment Bank. He will be replaced as finance minister by Tomislav Ćorić, confirmed Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

Tomislav Ćorić previously served as a minister in Andrej Plenković's government, and he comes to his new position from the position of vice governor of the Croatian National Bank.

Primorac leaves for EIB

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has eight vice presidents, and by agreement with Hungary and Poland, this position has for the first time gone to a Croatian official, the outgoing finance minister, Marko Primorac.

“In accordance with the agreement with Hungary and Poland, Croatia has been given the position of vice president of the EIB for the first time since it became a member of the EU,” reported HRT journalist Šime Vičević.

“The governing coalition is satisfied with the development of the situation and emphasizes that Primorac is a man with experience in the financial sector. They also expect it to contribute to Croatia's international reputation in financial circles,” he continued.

“Primorac was in the government for three and a half years, during his term the euro was introduced as the official currency in Croatia,” added Vičević.

Sanader: He was an excellent minister, others probably want him too

Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) members commented on the news of the appointment while arriving at the party's Presidency session.

“I congratulate him on his new position, he deserved it, he was an excellent minister and he has the right to go a step further. I don't know the new name, honestly,” said HDZ Presidency member Mislav Herman.

“I congratulate him if he goes. He was an excellent minister and others probably want him too,” continued HDZ political secretary Ante Sanader.

“He was very fair and I wish him all the best on a political and personal level,” said Oleg Butković, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure.

“I am not surprised that members of the Croatian Government have an opportunity in international institutions, it shows how strong they are, and who will succeed him, we will only see,” emphasized Tonči Glavina, Minister of Tourism and Sports.

“I congratulate Minister Primorac, he was an excellent minister and will certainly be the same in the position he is going to,” added Defense Minister Ivan Anušić.

Matijević: The appointment of Primorac and Vujčić means that we are doing well

“If that is the case, I congratulate him on that. Then this is another success of the Government headed by Andrej Plenković. It has never happened in history that Croatia has its representatives in two such renowned financial institutions of the European Union. I really do not have any information about that yet, but I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the entire Government. It means that we are doing well,” emphasized the president of the Zagreb HDZ Ivan Matijević.

The departure of Marko Primorac from the Government was also commented on by the Minister of Finance during the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Government, Boris Lalovac. He also referred to the new position of the Governor of the Croatian National Bank, Boris Vujčić, and emphasized that it is a great success.

“I absolutely support anyone who goes to a European institution. And I do not have any hidden intentions in this. I think that is very good considering that Croatia is a small country. If someone gets any position within the European institutions, everyone in Croatia, regardless of who it is, should support it. We have quality people to fill the European institutions. We know that many other countries are competing and that it is a merciless fight. So whoever lobbied well, I congratulate Minister Primorac and I recently congratulated Governor Vujčić,” emphasized SDP MP and former Finance Minister Boris Lalovac.

Source: HRT