We have lost too many lives. We can prevent the loss of life if as many citizens as possible get their jab

Addressing a government session on Friday, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković again warned of the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, appealing again to citizens to get vaccinated and noting that people were dying because of an irrational fear of the vaccine.

"We are faced with the spread of the more infectious Omicron variant across Europe, therefore it is necessary to continue with immunisation and step it up with the third, booster dose that significantly increases protection," Plenković said.

Even though new infections have continued to drop, the numbers are still high, which points to the need to be cautious and comply with epidemiological rules, he said, calling on all who have received the second dose to get the third dose before the expiry of the six-month deadline.

"That is especially important now ahead of Christmas, when people get together and socialise more," he said.

Plenković also recalled that more than 11,000 people had died of COVID-19 in Croatia so far and that many of those people had not been vaccinated.

"We have lost too many lives. We can prevent the loss of life if as many citizens as possible get vaccinated, and the best protection is vaccination. There is nothing rational in refusing to get vaccinated, one should trust science and the professionals," he said.

Plenković: Human rights in Croatia are constitutional category

In a comment on the International Day of Human Rights, 10 December, when in 1948 the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Plenković said that it was the first time in history that the right of all to life, health and security was recognised, without any differences.

"This is an occasion to reiterate that in Croatia human rights are a constitutional category and belong equally to all citizens, regardless of their race, skin colour, sex, language, religion, ethnic or social background," the PM said.

Respect for and recognition of those rights are every individual's legal obligation, and their protection the state's responsibility, he said.

"One of those rights is the right to health. Since the start of the pandemic, the entire world has been faced with the legal and ethical challenge of how to protect human lives and health while making sure the interest of preserving human rights, democracy and the rule of law is not compromised," he said.

Plenković added that the government was imposing measures that proportionately and reasonably restrict other human rights and freedoms while efficiently protecting lives.

Opportunists and populists want to profit from disease

A large number of citizens respect epidemiological restrictions but there are some who claim to be defenders of human rights and freedoms, using the current difficult situation to score political points and rally support for their political work, he said.

"Those are opportunists and populists, people who want to profit politically from a disease that has claimed more than 11,000 lives in Croatia," he said, adding that the government would continue to protect citizens' health and lives as well as all the other economic, cultural and social rights.

Conflict of interest prevention law easier to implement

Commenting on a bill on the prevention of conflict of interest, which will be sent to the parliament for a second reading, Plenković said the new law was clearer and easier to implement, both by the Conflict of Interest Commission and the persons it refers to.

More than 1,000 new persons to whom the law relates have been included in the bill, based on what is called corruption risk, he said.

A new form of declaring conflict of interest is being introduced, declarations of assets will have to be submitted every year and the Conflict of Interest Commission's actions will be aligned with rulings of the High Administrative Court, he said.

Plenković stressed that the bill met all the recommendations from the European Commission's rule of law report as well as recommendations by the Council of Europe's anti-corruption body GRECO.

Text: Hina

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