During his interview with the RTL broadcaster on Friday evening, President Zoran Milanovic declined to speculate about possible dates for Croatia's parliamentary elections this year, adding that he could understand the government's wish to have elections soon.

“It is evident that it is in the interest of this government to have the elections as soon as possible. With every additional month to pass, the dissatisfaction of citizens with the economic situation, for which they (the government) is not responsible, will grow,” Milanovic said in his comment on the economic scenarios stemming from the corona crisis.

He said that that he would be in favour of the extended term of the parliament if necessary and if possible under the constitution.

Asked whether Croatia’s national COVID-19 crisis management team is a political or expert body, Milanovic said that the team was led by doctors who were “in the politically conditioned positions as they are members of one political option and that it is allowable”.

As for the COVID-19 epidemic and the subsequent crisis, Milanovic elaborated that all the governments had similar approaches to the issue and that all the countries would suffer economic damage, including Sweden which, he said, in his opinion had a good approach to the crisis.  

Milanovic has no objections to government’s rescue package  

He went on to say that the cabinet led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic had adopted the necessary set of measures and that he had no objection.

The government could not have done anything more to ensure smaller contraction of Gross Domestic Product, said Milanovic, expressing again understanding for this whole situation.

He holds that entrepreneurs are right when they ask for lower taxes and contributions, adding that those costs for businesses are within the European average.

He admitted that they could always be lower, however, the state must have its revenues to function.

Milanovic went on to say that the citizens would have to live in line with epidemiological measures and care for the elderly and other vulnerable groups.

“This will not pass overnight. It will last for some time and traumatise us,” Milanovic said calling for patience.