The Social Democratic Party caucus said on Wednesday it would initiate an interpellation on the government's work in connection with the Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem project due to suspicion of corruption and the allocation of money only to members of the ruling HDZ and their families.
Speaking to the press, SDP vice president Sabina Glasovac said the party’s parliamentary group would initiate the interpellation due to “serious suspicion of the misuse of European money and potential corruption… to see if the Slavonia project will bring a better life to all or just them.”
In the interpellation, MP Domagoj Hajdukovic said, they will request a review of all the awarded funds to see under which criteria they were awarded and the establishment of a national council comprising MPs to oversee the implementation of the Slavonia project and, following the review, adopt political conclusions.
Glasovac wondered if the “huge” money from EU funds was going to “those who really need it.”
She cited numerous media reports stating that the family of HDZ member Franjo Lucic received HRK 17 million, that a company owned by his son Tomislav was given a HRK 14.8 million grant for agriculture, that his son Domagoj received a HRK 372,000 grant, that the same amount was awarded to two of Lucic’s relatives each, while another relative was awarded a HRK 111,000 grant.
Glasovac also mentioned media reports claiming that Labour Minister Josip Aladrovic’s father received HRK 372,000 and one his father’s relatives a HRK 111,000 grant, and that former HDZ member Alojz Tomasevic’s son received a HRK 111,000 grant.
Glasovac said one could conclude that the Slavonia project was just a front for HDZ personnel and their families and relatives to get rich.
She said Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic “has done nothing to fight corruption. On the contrary, there is more and more corruption.”
“That’s why the result of the Slavonia project is what it is. Despite millions spent, there are no new jobs, there is no agricultural development, there is no better life in Slavonia, only for privileged HDZ members,” she said.
(€1 = HRK 7.56)
