Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Affairs Davor Bozinovic on Monday commented on teachers' demands for a wage increase, saying that the government and Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), as the senior coalition partner in government, were prepared for all political challenges and even the possibility of a snap election.
Bozinovic was replying to reporters at the Police Academy with reference to the Croatian People’s Party (HNS) insistence for teachers’ wages to be increased and messages by Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic and leader of the Labour and Solidarity Party that the government needs to increase teachers’ wages or the incumbent government would no longer exist.
Govt showing positive trends and continuing on its path
Reporters asked about the government’s future considering that two junior partners in the ruling coalition were publicly opposed to the government’s decisions and have set their demands to Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Bozinovic responded that this government “unlike the previous ones we succeeded,” is recording positive trends.
“Headway is visible in all segments and that headway is the consequence of a responsible approach, including a continuous increase in wages but to the extent that is realistically possible and which does not set aside any particular category to the detriment of another category of state or public servants. We would like it that there was more money and to be able to allocate more, however, the path the government is taking is realistic. With this we are creating preconditions for a greater economic growth, a better credit rating, lower interest, paying off the debts of some previous governments and that is the only way,” he said.
Asked whether the government could survive “with all this blackmail,” Bozinovic reiterated that the government follows its course and is “going that way.” “If anything stands in the way on that course, we as the ruling party and the senior partner in the coalition, will certainly be prepared for any political challenge,” said Bozinovic.
Asked to comment on rumours within the HDZ even that considering all the blackmail, a snap election should be called yet Plenkovic does not have the courage to do so, Bozinovic said that that was not true at all.
“That is absolutely incorrect. We all talk and what I have just said is the opinion of everyone in the government and naturally the prime minister too. And party, of course,” he added. The government’s policy is to increase wages horizontally for all services according to possibilities,” he underscored.
