Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Wednesday the ruling coalition would find a way to continue functioning after talks with partners over a controversy involving lawmaker Josip Dabro.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the parliamentary majority, Plenković said discussions had helped clarify positions and that there was goodwill on all sides to stabilise the situation.
“We have taken a step forward and a modality will be found for the coalition to function,” he said.
Plenković said he had welcomed Boška Ban as a new member of the parliamentary majority, adding that her decision to join had been voluntary. He denied holding special talks with other lawmakers about joining the coalition but said he was open to discussions.
Asked whether independent lawmaker Dario Zurovec could be invited to talks, Plenković said he remained open to meeting him.
The prime minister also held meetings with representatives of the Homeland Movement (DP) and the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) to discuss the fallout from Dabro’s conduct, which he said all coalition partners had condemned.
He said he had spoken with DP officials and later with HSLS leader Dario Hrebak, adding that the talks had improved mutual understanding.
According to Plenković, the DP had not been aware of Dabro’s actions in advance and was dissatisfied with them. “Such behaviour has brought nothing positive, only negative,” he said.
He said HSLS was seeking assurances that similar incidents would not recur but signalled it remained inclined to continue cooperation with his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).
“I understood Mr Hrebak to want to continue partnership with HDZ. My impression is that their position is closer to staying in the coalition than leaving it,” Plenković said.
Plenković stressed that Dabro holds an individual parliamentary mandate and that neither the government nor other parties can revoke it. He added that Dabro was no longer decisive for the government’s stability.
The State Attorney’s Office (DORH) has launched preliminary proceedings against Dabro, but Plenković said this was not a burden on the government as Dabro is not a cabinet member.
He described the matter as an internal issue for the Homeland Movement. “Their problem, their member – they should deal with it,” he said, adding that it would be better for the party to focus public attention on its ministers rather than on what he called “absolutely unacceptable” conduct.
Dismisses president’s criticism over Israel
Plenković also brushed aside criticism from President Zoran Milanović regarding Defence Minister Ivan Anušić’s visit to Israel.
“I have no idea what he said, I did not listen and I will not comment,” Plenković said, adding that the president was the last person who should tell the government where ministers may travel.
Milanović earlier described Israel as an unreliable partner and criticised the visit.
Asked whether Israel was now a more reliable partner than in 2018, when Croatia’s planned purchase of F-16 fighter jets from Israel fell through, Plenković said lessons had been learned and that the current procurement process was being handled differently.
He declined to revisit the failed deal, saying the public should focus on more recent international engagements, including Croatia’s participation in events marking four years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Stop the hysteria” over oil supplies
Plenković also responded to criticism from Hungary and Slovakia that Croatia was not a reliable energy partner after crude supplies via the Druzhba pipeline were disrupted.
He said Croatia’s pipeline operator JANAF could fully meet the oil needs of both countries through its Adriatic terminal at Omišalj.
“JANAF can be the sole supply route for Hungary and Slovakia if necessary,” he said, urging the public in both countries to “stop the hysteria”.
He said Hungary’s oil and gas group MOL Group had ordered several tankers to arrive at Omišalj in the coming weeks, carrying non-Russian crude that would be transported to refineries in Hungary and Slovakia.
Croatia, he added, was respecting both the EU legal framework and U.S. sanctions regimes, and JANAF was transporting oil in line with those rules.
“There is no reason for any drama. Croatia, as a neighbouring and friendly country, can deliver sufficient quantities of crude oil for normal economic functioning in both Hungary and Slovakia,” Plenković said.