President Milanović Will Sign Decision on Appointment of Daniel Markić as Acting Director of Security and Intelligence Agency (SOA)

Today, the President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović will sign the Decision on the Appointment of the Acting Director of the Security and Intelligence Agency (SOA), by which Daniel Markić is slated to assume the role of Acting Director of SOA on 6 May 2024, for a maximum duration of two months, pending the appointment of a permanent Director.

The President of the Republic proposed to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia on 11 March 2024 the appointment of Daniel Markić as Acting Director of SOA pending the appointment of a new Director, for a maximum duration of two months. Bearing in mind the announced dissolution of the Croatian Parliament, the President of the Republic already cautioned the Croatian Prime Minister that it is probable the term of the SOA Director will conclude before the formation of the new Croatian Government. Consequently, the legal procedure for appointing the SOA Director during that period may not be feasible.

Given that a new Croatian Government has not yet been formed and SOA Director Markić’s term ends on 5 May 2024, the proposal of the President of the Republic to appoint Daniel Markić as Acting Director of SOA has now proven to be the only rational and responsible solution. Although the Decision on the Appointment of the Acting Director of SOA could and should have been made in March, the President believes that today’s decision by the caretaker Croatian Prime Minister to accept his earlier proposal is the only possible and correct decision.

Likewise, it is good and praiseworthy that the caretaker Croatian Prime Minister has returned his actions to the constitutional framework and that he is again aware that he must cooperate with the President of the Republic as prescribed by the Croatian Constitution and laws.