Nikola Grmoja: 'It's no surprise Plenković dislikes the idea of Herceg Bosna. His policy depends on what his bosses in Brussels say'

Nikola Grmoja, president of the Croatian party Most, has voiced strong criticism against the current government's economic policies, particularly those affecting small tourism entrepreneurs and freelancers. Grmoja argues that the government's approach prioritizes large hotel corporations, effectively marginalizing smaller businesses that are crucial for the national economy.

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I would not want our tourism policy to be conducted in a way that benefits large hotel companies, and that is actually happening. I would not want our small renters to be trampled.

"I would not want our tourism policy to be conducted in a way that benefits large hotel companies, and that is actually happening. I would not want our small renters to be trampled," Grmoja stated. He addressed concerns about tax burdens, noting that while some might argue small providers are not sufficiently taxed, their contributions have already been increased by the government in the past year. Grmoja warned that imposing higher taxes on these small businesses will inevitably lead to increased prices for services and goods, ultimately impacting consumers.

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It is clear to me that someone will say that they are not taxed enough. They weren't, but the government already increased their contributions last year.

Furthermore, Grmoja criticized the government's handling of public finances, citing wasteful spending and significant corruption scandals. He specifically pointed to the tax administration's perceived inaction, suggesting it contributes to issues like the case of Vedran Pavlek. He believes that increasing the tax burden on freelancers will not curb inflation but rather cause prices to rise, a burden that will again fall on consumers.

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The tax burden on freelancers will not lead to the resolution of inflation. What will happen is that prices of services and everything else will rise, and all of that will again spill over to consumers.

Grmoja also proposed alternative avenues for government savings, suggesting a reduction in public sector employment and official salaries. He advocated for a thorough analysis of public sector staffing to redistribute employees where needed and encourage others to seek employment in the private sector. While acknowledging that ministers and high-ranking officials should be compensated adequately due to their responsibilities, he argued that parliamentary salaries are excessively high, especially considering the number of representatives who reportedly attend only for Friday votes. He also expressed skepticism about the current structure of local governance, suggesting reforms that could lead to significant savings by consolidating services under larger administrative units.

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We have a situation where some in the public sector, including officials, have seen their salaries increase incredibly, and in parallel, we have a huge increase in public sector employees.