PM: Opposition populists show very little responsibility for the interest of the state, the gov't has prevented chaos

Prime Minister and Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader Andrej Plenkovic said on Friday that Opposition parties the Social Democrats (SDP) and Bridge were trying to score cheap political points on the issue of the Agrokor private food and retail group, which is currently in financial distress, adding that his government was least responsible for this case.

Commenting on a press conference at which Bridge lawmaker Nikola Grmoja presented documents implicating HDZ official Vladimir Seks in the Agrokor case, PM Plenkovic replied: "Much ado about nothing."

Grmoja on Friday accused Seks of knowing about loan fraud involving the now heavily indebted Agrokor and Zagrebacka Banka back in the 1990s when Seks served as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of home affairs, and to back up his claims, Grmoja showed reporters a copy of a 1994 report by the financial police addressed to Seks.

Responding to reporters' queries about this document, Plenkovic said sarcastically: "I am trembling".

He went on to say that the document was already available to the public and he was positive that at the time in question Seks referred the document to relevant institutions to act accordingly.

Plenkovic dismissed accusations from the Opposition that his party was obstructing the work of the parliamentary inquiry commission on Agrokor.

He countered that it was the SDP that had drawn up a frame of reference for the commission in early April and recalled that at the time leaders of that party took pictures of themselves with cabbage and a chocolate bar as their proposed solution to the Agrokor crisis.

"Their creativity reaches unprecedented proportions in Croatia's politics," Plenkovic said in his ironic retort.

As for a warrant issued for Agrokor's owner Ivica Todoric, who is beyond the reach of the Croatian authorities, Plenkovic said that as far as he knew the law enforcement agencies in Croatia had taken all the necessary steps and were cooperating with agencies abroad.

Todoric among Europe's most wanted fugitives - Europol

Europol has listed runaway Croatian businessman Ivica Todoric among Europe's most wanted fugitives, and according to the information on the website of this European Union law enforcement agency, he is wanted in Croatia for "corruption and forgery of administrative documents".

The Europol notice about Todoric, for whose arrest Croatia has recently issued a  warrant, reads that he is wanted for "fraud, including that affecting the financial interests of the European Communities within the meaning of the Convention of 26 July 1995 on the protection of European Communities' financial interests."

On 23 October, the Zagreb County Prosecutor's Office issued a European Arrest Warrant for Todoric, the founder and owner of the  Agrokor food and retail conglomerate that is currently in financial distress, with debts amounting to billions of kuna.

Ivica Todoric, his sons Ivan and Ante, and 12 former Agrokor executives and auditors are under investigation for making 1.142 billion kuna (EUR 152 million) in illegal gains. Investigative detention was set only for Ivica Todoric, and the other suspects are allowed to defend themselves while at liberty.

On 25 October, Croatia's judicial authorities issued a Red Notice for Todoric's arrest and this notice has not yet been made public on Interpol's web site.

Text: Hina

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