President Zoran Milanovic on Wednesday commented on the arrest of three judges in Osijek, saying that he believed it indicated a "systemic disorder" and that the judiciary as it was was "being protected by PM Andrej Plenkovic and people around him," including long-time HDZ official Vladimir Seks.

“I don’t know the details. We will see what happens. Three judges, that is a systemic disorder, It seems like lupus, a serious immunological condition,” Milanovic said during a visit to the island of Krk.

Asked to comment on the absence of comment on the arrests on the part of judicial institutions, Milanovic said that there was no judiciary.

“There is only semi-fiction that the Supreme Court is led by a person who with certain actions, their bearing and by raising certain issues could make a difference and so far, that has not been the case. I have proposed Zlata Djurdjevic, and the HDZ will do anything to prevent her election. The judiciary is owned by the HDZ, there’s no doubt about it, it is protected by Plenkovic, his cronies and Seks,” he said.

Milanovic believes the fact that three judges have been arrested indicates the existence of a system, which he called the HDZ’s.

“It is only natural (the problem) was not recognised sooner, until things became so public that they could no longer be hidden. That’s when, as usual, the good, funny bear USKOK steps in,” said Milanovic.

Outcome of vote on Djurdjevic as expected

Asked if he watched Djurdjevic’s address to the parliamentary Judiciary Committee, Milanovic said the outcome was as expected.

“It is as expected as the partying of the Supreme Court president with HDZ members from his hometown,” he said, adding that Djurdjevic was simply too independent, upright and competent.

“She has no political orientation, she is pro-Croatian, and they will try to push such a person aside at all costs, that is a matter of the HDZ’s survival,” he said, noting that the HDZ was against Djurdjevic because she was not its member.

Milanovic not against Victory Day celebration in Knin 

Asked about the position of the association of retired Croatian generals that the central commemoration of Victory Day should be held in Knin, Milanovic said that he respected their opinion, noting that Social Democrat prime minister Ivica Racan had been the one to propose that Victory Day should be commemorated in Knin and that commemorations there started as late as 2000 and 2001.

“I did not say I was against it, but I consider it our debt of justice to locations where the Homeland War really ended (to commemorate Victory Day there as well),” he stressed.

Asked to comment on the latest statements by PM Andrej Plenkovic, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic, and other HDZ officials that they would no longer respond to his insults, Milanovic wondered what insults they were talking about.

“I did not call anyone scum or oaf and will not (expression and pun used at one time by Jandrokovic and Plenkovic in altercations with MPs Nikola Grmoja and Miro Bulj), but I will say certain things about some people that are facts and will not be blackmailed into keeping silent about them… If you want a fight with me, that is the price you will have to pay, I’m ready to pay it,” he said.