- Published: 09.10.2019.
PM for more appropriate valorisation of key moments since Croatia's independence
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Tuesday the amendments to the law on national holidays, memorial days and non-working days was motivated by the desire for a greater recognisability among citizens of the key moments in the first years of Croatia's independence, adding that the government was proposing a more appropriate valorisation.
Congratulating citizens on Independence Day, he said that in days like this it was necessary to remember Croatia's first president, Franjo Tudjman, the then state leadership and Croatian defenders.
"It's up to us to arrange the Croatia we have to the benefit of all our fellow citizens, so that it is more prosperous, more socially aware and inclusive, so that we can resolve all issues and enable all citizens to live better."
Asked if this was the last October 8 to be observed as a national holiday, Plenkovic said the government's bill of amendments to the law on national holidays, memorial days and non-working days would be known on Thursday.
It's an integral solution which, in the government's opinion, will valorise more appropriately and more precisely all the key moments in the first few years of Croatia's independence, of which there are many, he said.
One of the motives for the amendments is the government's desire for those days to become more recognisable among citizens, for them to be observed when, thanks to the working and school cycles, they encounter greater affection among the people, as well as being a very logical moment for the future generations, Plenkovic said.
According to him, there is a marked difference between the emotion and enthusiasm whereby the Croatian people respected May 30 in the 1990s and now. "Colloquially speaking, see what has caught on and what has caught on a little less, and put things in their place."
Until 2001, Statehood Day was observed on May 30 and since then on June 25.
PM answers questions from members of public visiting parliament for Open Day
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Tuesday again expressed satisfaction that the Croatian candidate for a European Commission Vice President, Dubravka Suica, had successfully passed a hearing before the relevant committees of the European Parliament, expressing confidence that she would also contribute to improving the status of persons with disabilities.
"Ms Suica, who has always advocated the rights of vulnerable groups, will... make it possible for what is done at EU level to be of help at the national level," Plenkovic said in response to a question from members of the public visiting the parliament which opened its door to them on the occasion of Independence Day.
One of the topics to be dealt with by Suica are persons with disabilities, Plenkovic said when asked by a citizen if Suica's election would have an impact on the status of persons with disabilities.
PM: There are no more trends of mass emigration
The prime minister stressed that emigration was not only a problem in Croatia and that other EU member states, too, had encountered it in the first years of liberalisation of movement of their citizens, who were leaving for more developed EU countries.
"Those trends have been stabilising in Croatia, too, and there are no more mass emigration trends," the PM said, adding that emigration today was different from what it had been 100 or 150 years ago.
Citing measures his government had undertaken to stop emigration, he cited successful economic indicators - an increase in the average and minimum wages, a growth of pensions, a 3.1% economic growth and three record tourist seasons.
"The government has kickstarted economic growth, macroeconomic trends are good, we have the lowest unemployment rate and the highest employment rate, of 66%," he said, admitting that things could always be better.
He noted that the government would soon discuss an energy strategy and underlined that the education reform was one of the key instruments for job adaptation in the future.
Plenkovic confirmed being acquainted with the problem of unlawful logging, of which representatives of the Zeleni Odred (Green Squad) association spoke, criticising the government for not doing anything about it.
The PM said that unlawful logging was not happening with the government's consent.
Answering questions from members of the public, War Veterans Minister Tomo Medved repeated that shedding light on the fate of people gone missing in the 1991-95 war was a priority for the government and his ministry, adding that Croatia was still looking for 1,891 persons.
Numerous citizens asked questions of personal interest to them, from property-rights related issues to family issues, and were referred to the relevant ministries.
Text: Hina