The Croatian government's measure to cap fuel prices will be extended for another month, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced on Wednesday, adding that the government can limit fuel prices for a maximum of three months.

“We are working in the interests of the people and their living standards, and the economy,” Plenkovic told reporters during a conference of economists in the northern Adriatic resort town of Opatija.

He said that the purpose of the government’s decision was to prevent a social rift at the time of the coronavirus pandemic and avoid a possible wave of bankruptcies and job losses.

“That didn’t happen thanks to the government measures. It is not in our interest to allow oil prices to endanger the living standards of the people while we are increasing wages, keeping inflation below the EU average and using the available tools for the benefit of the people,” the prime minister said.

On 14 October, the government passed a decree capping the price of petrol at HRK 11.10 per litre and the price of diesel at HRK 11. The decree is based on the Petroleum Products Acts which allows the government to set the highest retail price of petroleum products for an uninterrupted period of up to 90 days to protect consumers.