PM dismisses Opposition's accusations against Health Minister

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Tuesday addressed the national parliament during a discussion on the Opposition's motion of no confidence against Health Minister Vili Beroš to refute the allegations from the motion submitted by 41 Opposition MPs.

"We dismiss your motion in its entirety. Beroš will remain the minister and the reform (of the healthcare system) will be conducted," Plenković said.

Concerning vaccination against COVID-19, Plenković  said that thanks to the government, so far 1.175 million vaccine doses had been administered, and nearly 1.3 million residents had been given the first shot of the vaccine, while a half million people had received both shots.

He recalled that when the global crisis with AstraZeneca vaccine broke out, Croatia managed to pre-order sufficient amounts of vaccines. We have ordered 8.5 million doses for this year, he added.

All those who want to be inoculated, will get vaccinated, and I appeal for inoculation for the sake of the health of vaccinated people and public health in general, Plenković said.

In the last 16 months we have dealt with the biggest global crisis in the last 100 years, he said referring to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had two kinds of protagonists: the parliamentary majority and the government that have fought for health safety, for and keeping jobs, and the other group consisting of those who have signed the motion of no-confidence, and who first dealt with the constitutional foundations of the national COVID-19 crisis management team, then claimed that COVID-19 was like tooth decay or flu, and sent 'spontaneous' photos from hospitals to raise questions whether there were enough amounts of protective gear and equipment in hospitals, he said.

"This is a huge difference between us and you. This was recognised by voters in the local elections," Plenković said in his response to the Opposition, reiterating that his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) won 45% of the municipalities and cities and 75% of counties, which was better results for the party than four years ago in the previous local polls.

He said that the government had managed to preserve 700,000 jobs and salvage more than 120,000 employers, and set aside HRK 32 billion for that purpose.

The premier added that the SDP and its official Siniša Hajdaš Dončić had forecast "social fracture" and that, however, did not happen, owing to efforts of the government.

Minister Beroš said that constructive criticism was welcome, however, accusations based on untruths should be condemned, he added.

Text: Hina

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