The President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Zoran Milanovic, said on Tuesday he cannot work with Defence Minister Mario Banozic and that he expects Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to "resolve this problem" and remove "the person who has become a problem for the state."

“I can discuss these matters only with the leader of the HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) and not with Banozic any more. This has become serious and has repercussions for national security and relations with neighbours. Because people who don’t know the difference between the truth and lies, and are doing such a delicate job, are dangerous for Croatia,” Milanovic told the press in the eastern Croatian town of Vukovar.

Milanovic and Banozic have been locked in a public row since Banozic’s decision to retire the commander of the Honorary-Guard Battalion, Elvis Burcul. This weekend, details were revealed showing that several members of the battalion had attended a funeral for four members of the HVO (Croatian Defence Force) in Bugojno, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Defence Ministry and President having different opinions on the matter.

What has been happening over the past two days is dangerous and irresponsible, said Milanovic.

“It is impossible to work with him,” said Milanovic referring to Banozic and warning that this is the first time a defence minister has accused the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of breaching the Constitution.

Milanovic said he can speak only to the prime minister and expects him to “resolve the problem that we have, and that problem is Banozic.”

“He arrived totally unprepared, ignorant, and terribly aggressive. A local party honcho who leads one of the most delicate systems in the country and who is supposed to work with the commander-in-chief and be at his service, and he is doing just the opposite,” said Milanovic.

Milanovic reiterated that Banozic had “criminally” retired Burcul and that he insists on Burcul being reinstated into the system.

He once again warned of the coming meeting of the Defence Council (scheduled for 9 November) and pointed out that the Croatian military is facing a serious material crisis because its needs have been totally ignored, in particular the ground forces.

“And these are things that I cannot resolve because I do not manage the budget,” he added.

Milanovic described Plenkovic’s comment on a “creeping coup” as being absolutely irresponsible and alarming.