President Milanović in Viškovo: I oppose abolishing the counties and setting up five regions, it is not good for Croatia
The President of the Republic of Zoran Milanović attended today the special session of the Municipal County of the Municipality of Viškovo marking Municipal Day.
Since the Municipality of Viškovo is marking the 30th anniversary of its establishment this year, President Milanović talked about the administrative organization of the state and of the initiative regarding changes and the reform of the local self-government.
“For years I’ve been hearing about an initiative to abolish municipalities, it was allegedly also my government’s plan more than ten years ago, however nothing was undertaken in this regard because it would do harm to the country. In 1993 when Croatia had more important problems than ever – occupation, war, uncertainty – the parliamentary majority reached the only decision that could be reached under such circumstances without a debate. Croatia is divided into 529 local and self-government units, cities and municipalities. Since then we have been hearing that it is bad, dangerous, that it will destroy the country, that no country has that – yet Austria had 900 – how will we abolish the counties, which are a constitutional category”, President Milanović stated, adding that at that time it was a good and only possible decision.
“If we were to undertake a reorganisation of the state it would fail at the first obstacle, the discussion would lead nowhere and we wouldn’t be able to reach a consensus. Whoever tells me that we should reduce the number of municipalities, I would ask that person – where do we begin? Which municipality loses its identity to be joined to another one or is it an acquisition of some other municipality? No municipality wants to be abolished. This is a system that more or less satisfies everybody”, he went on to say, underlining that he opposes abolishing counties to set up regions. “I am against that because regions are politically problematic and have always been a bone of contention for some other identities. Croatia doesn’t need five regions. I don’t see it being good for Croatia”, he noted, and stressed that these are important topics.
President Milanović also talked about the European Union and EU funds that have been well absorbed by Viškovo because multiple projects were funded and constructed thanks to them. “Make use of that money. Look out for your own interests cautiously and selfishly. Build, continue building, utilizing that money is our greatest task,” the President said in addressing the residents of Viškovo. “Be strict masters, cooperate with those who are weaker than you, preserve your dialect and happy Municipal Day”.
Also congratulating Municipal Day of Viškovo besides President Milanović were the President of Viškovo’s Municipal Council Bojan Kurelić, the Head of the Municipality Sanja Udović and the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Prefect Zlatko Komadina. Commendations from the Municipality of Viškovo – plaques for 2022 were presented for the occasion in the areas of scientific achievements and popularization of science.
Alongside President Milanović was the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia/Ana Marija Katić