Croatia's State Inspectorate leaderless for 8 months amid corruption probe and swine fever crisis

Croatia's State Inspectorate has been operating without a permanent chief for eight months, a significant leadership vacuum that began after the arrest of former head Andrija Mikulić as part of an anti-corruption probe. The government has yet to name a successor or provide a clear explanation for the prolonged delay, offering only vague assurances that a proposal will be made "soon."

This extended wait has fueled speculation within political circles. One theory suggests the government is deliberately delaying the appointment to gauge the full extent of the investigation into Mikulić. If true, this implies a lack of confidence in potential candidates, fearing they might also face corruption allegations. The Prime Minister is directly responsible for proposing the new chief, who then answers directly to the government.

Meanwhile, the inspectorate, currently led by Mikulić's deputy, Ivan Samac, is under intense scrutiny following an incident where three trucks carrying pigs without proper identification were prevented from entering a farm with over 3,000 swine. The farm was located near Varaždin, and the pigs were traveling from a zone under quarantine due to African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in Slavonia.

This incident has exposed a critical shortage of veterinary inspectors. The five Slavonian counties affected by ASF collectively have only 19 veterinary inspectors. This number is insufficient even under normal circumstances, let alone during recurring epidemic waves of ASF that have plagued Croatia and neighboring regions for years. The Minister of Agriculture acknowledged ASF as a chronic issue for the country's pig farming sector.