President Zoran Milanovic said on Tuesday that if half of what whistleblower Maja Djerek said about favouring in the Drzavne Nekretnine state property management company was true, it was sufficient reason for the government to resign.

“What Djerek is saying, she is saying as a total insider,” he told the press about the company’s former employee, adding that this should be dealt with by the State Attorney’s Office (DORH).

As for Defence Minister Mario Banozic’s claim that Djerek was “the whistle” of interest groups, the president said members of the ruling HDZ party “were probably brainstorming for three hours to come up with something funny.”

“Maybe someone bought her off, maybe she’s working for the SDP, Bridge or (MP) Nino Raspudic, ‘who’s my errand boy’,” Milanovic said ironically. “This is a serious job for DORH. Attention should be paid to those claims to see who is telling the truth. If half of what she said is true, that’s reason for the government to fall.”

Gas price hikes

Regarding gas price hikes, the president said the City of Zagreb failed to buy cheaper gas due a change of the city administration last May, but wondered how the government dared to blame the city administration.

“We are where we are. Why doesn’t HEP step in?” he said about the state-owned power supply company.

Asked if slashing VAT was the answer, Milanovic said that was insignificant as the differences were much bigger. “I’m not for manipulating VAT too much. It’s the state’s tap and the state must have it, whoever is in power. However, there is a way. Ask the HEP team.”