"We have already seen fabricated text messages between state prosecutors, judges, prime minister, deputy prime ministers, but we haven't seen anything like this before," Pelnkovic said at the start of a cabinet meeting, saying that that the attempt to fabricate compromising photographs of deputy prime minister and Economy Minister Tomislav Tolusic was the main topic over the past several days.
Plenkovic said he was particularly surprised by the comments of some political stakeholders and some media who claim this is all part of "the PR attempt to divert attention from some other topics."
We are not into business of compromising and disqualifying
We are not that creative and we are not into business of doing that, Plenkovic said.
The prime minister stressed that everyone in the government was outraged by the attempt to besmirch Minister Tolusic, which objectively could have had serious consequences for his private life as well.
"This deserves strongest condemnation and of course, I expect the authorities to find the perpetrator and discover their motive," Plenkovic said.
The prime minister added that regardless of all attempts to destabilise the authorities, the government would continue to do its job.
In the end he thanked the owner and editor in chief of the Nacional weekly who published the information about the Tolusic case, acted reasonably and informed the Security and Intelligence Agency about it immediately, which soon after that established that it was a doctored photo..
The Nacional weekly on Tuesday ran an article under the headline "A hooker and cocaine in professional set-up against Tomislav Tolusic." The article is accompanied by fake photos aimed at discrediting the minister. The weekly claims that the photomontage showing Tolusic with a prostitute and cocaine was aimed at discrediting and politically destroying Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Minister Tolusic.
Text: Hina