Analysis

Croatian PM reshuffles cabinet, defends record in office

After the resignations of Croatian public administration minister Lovro Kuščevi and state assets minister Goran Marić, Croatia’s prime minister Andrej Plenković has reshuffled his cabinet.

Mr Plenković admitted that the reshuffle was necessary because the public perception of his cabinet was becoming a burden, and that he wanted to put the focus of the public and the media on everything positive that the government has done so far.

He said that the government’s achievements include having the country’s credit rating restored to investment grade, increasing the minimum and average wages, economic growth, lower unemployment, measures for demographic revitalisation, and rescuing the Agrokor conglomerate.

“Without stability, none of these achievements would have been possible,” the prime minister said after thanking all the outgoing ministers.

According to Mr Plenković, it is usual to make certain changes at the end of the third and early in the fourth year of a mandate, so that the government is able to continue its programme related to the growth of the Croatian economy.

“The crown of these activities will be the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2020,” he added.