HEP MORE THAN ELECTRICITY

By: V. Krsnik

Photo: M. Mrkonjic/Pixsell

The very fact that the Croatian Parliament was convened for an extraordinary session for the first time since independence and at the beginning of the summer break is obvious proof that, despite the fact that some headed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković do not want to admit it, Croatia is facing a creeping serious constitutional crisis. It was sharpened by the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović using one of the rare opportunities provided to him by the Constitution according to article 79. proposes to convene an extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament. It should be reminded that under the article of the Constitution an extraordinary session may be requested by the parliamentary majority or the Government itself. Since the united opposition this time both the left and the right from which he was absent, which is emblematic that the Homeland Movement does not have 76 hands, and that Andrej Plenković did not have the courage to call an extraordinary session of the Parliament, the decision on it remained in the hands of the President of the Republic.

AUTOCRATIC POLICY

As expected, HDZ under Pleković’s leadership rejected all requests of both the President of the Republic and the united left and right opposition, which is just one additional proof that Croatia has become a hostage of the Prime Minister and his autocratic policy which is essentially all about politics in the protection of classic clientelist capitalism when It is the state-owned energy company Croatian Electricity Company (HEP). That is why the ruling majority, therefore, HDZ and satellites rejected the requests of the President of the Republic and the united opposition to dissolve within three working days the members of the management of the Croatian Electricity Company, members of the board of directors of the Croatian Energy Regulatory Agency (HERA), the management of Croatian Energy Market Operator (HROTE) and the Secretary of State for Energy in the Ministry of Economy and sustainable development to Ivo Milatić. The ruling HDZ majority also rejected the request to determine within 15 days which institutions and persons are responsible for the financial damage inflicted to HEP in the implementation of the Regulation on the elimination of disturbances on the domestic energy market. The second reason for convening an extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament was a multi-week strike of employees in the judiciary, so the HDZ majority rejected the request to meet the demands of the strikers for a pay increase and not to be denied their pay for the time spent on the strike.

CHANCELLOR SYSTEM

Simply put, HDZ is led by autocratic Prime Minister Andrej Plenković by refusing to accept requests against large-scale corruption in HEP’s business, and in other issue of meeting union demands by the judiciary protesters for equalizing salaries with other public services, only demonstrated that it remains consistent with its arrogance since he took a seat. at the forefront of government. Nothing else could be expected from him, because his politics, or rather, politicianism contained in his behavior and management of the government, are based on the statement that “he can do what he wants” and “how he will change Croatia”. There are a series of examples that Andrej Plenković rules Croatia as a Chancellor and that, as in the real Chancellor system, thanks to a strained parliamentary majority, controls the Croatian Parliament, instead of the Croatian Parliament controlling him and HDZ as the ruling party. That is why it is not strange that he and his mixed ministers and state secretaries did not participate in the work of the extraordinary session, which was the order, but this is additional proof that they wanted to avoid it. Instead, they attacked the President of the Republic for not coming to the session he convened, even though it is not written anywhere that he must be present.

MISERY OF THE CDC

After this first extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament, several conclusions can be drawn. For the first time is the joint appearance of the opposition left and right who have put aside their ideological differences and for the first time in the interest of the citizens who elected them and the country where they live, they have shown unity in two issues that burden the current political scene. That’s corruption and the right to fair pay. Despite the fact that their demands have not been adopted, the three-day debate in the Parliament showed all the misery of the Croatian Democratic Community as a party that serves its leader Andrej Plenković to protect apparent corruption. In the case of the First Gas Company headed by Pavlo Vujnovac and HEP Board President Fran Barbarić, who are involved in the controversial sale of gas below the price of even one cent, with taxpayers suffering a damage of at least 10 million euros should go back to the beginning of the story.

PPD & GAZPROM

Ten years ago, so even before Andrej Plenković came to power with the idea to first change HDZ and then Croatia’s HEP had an income of HRK 14 billion, and the First Plumbing Society (PPD) Pavle Vujnovac income of HRK 50 million. Two years ago, HEP’s income fell to 10 billion HRK and PPD’s income dizzy grew to 21 (!?) billions of HRK and that trend continues It is sensational information that in itself requires analysis and answers, but there is no word about it in all the leading media headed by Croatian television, not to mention “Jutarnji list” and “Večernji list” which are full of advertising slogans “HEP more than electricity”. Speaking frankly and ironically HEP is really “more than current” because there are games inside and outside of it that lead to the conclusion that there is a dangerous crawling policy in which a small fish tries to swallow a big fish. It is not a harmless game at all, since behind the First Gas Company is Russian capital, because PPD is practically a subsidiary of the Russian oil giant “Gazprom”, with which a multi-year gas supply contract was signed. That something serious behind the hill should be reminded of a key information. The company Natural Gas d.o.o. operated within INA in 2012. she made 7.5 billion kunas a year, to 2016 the years just disappeared, and her actions were taken over by the PPD. Former Minister of HNS Ivan Vrdoljak played an important role in that liquidation of INA company. Overall, the corruption discovered on the HEP-PPD relationship has a deeper background and presents a very serious threat to national security because HEP is a national company of extremely strategic importance. In this story, Andrej Plenković was caught with his fingers in jam and that is why it is important that this topic came on the wallpaper of the extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament. It’s quite certain that new facts will come out about the corruption that connects HEP and PPD.