Government spokesman Marko Milic rejected late on Monday claims that the Prime Minister has decided to sack five members of the government's Scientific Council who had signed a public appeal on Sunday calling for tougher action against the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the country.
Vecernji List daily reported late on Monday that the five scientists have been kicked out of the Council after they joined over 20 prominent Croatian medical doctors and scientists who issued an appeal to the public expressing concern about the spread of the pandemic and a large number of deaths in Croatia.
One of the scientists in question, molecular biologist Nenad Ban, confirmed to the daily late on Monday that he was no longer a member of the Council.
“It is true, at least as far as I’m concerned. I regret that decision, but, even though I’m no longer in this formal position, I will still continue to offer my advice or opinion… I hope that will help us deal with this difficult situation we’re facing,” Ban told Vecernji List.
However, late on Monday, government spokesman Marko Milic denied the reports that the Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic had made the decision on their expulsion.
He did confirm that the head of Prime Minister’s office, Zvonimir Frka-Petesic, had contacted three of the five scientists.
According to Milic, Frka-Petesic told them that “trust has been eroded and any future cooperation makes no sense if the members will hold hours-long talks on measures and restrictions on Saturday, only to turn around and issue an appeal on Sunday overtly criticising the government and the response team without giving any specific proposals on measures to be taken in combating the virus.”
Milic also said that “as far as the government is concerned, everyone who signed the appeal continues to be part of the Scientific Council.”
Another member of the Council, dr Andreja Ambriovic-Ristov, confirmed to N1 the conversation had taken place.
“Yesterday, Mr Frka-Petesic called me to say the Prime Minister wanted to thank me for my cooperation which, because of the appeal I had signed, makes no sense anymore. I have seen the denials issued later, but I don’t understand what (the government) meant by that,” Ambriovic-Ristov said.
