Plenković: Corruption Case Exposes Možemo's Hypocrisy, Accuses Party of Evading Scrutiny

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has strongly criticized the Možemo party regarding the corruption case involving Kosta Kostanjević, former director of the City Institution for the Management of Sports Facilities (USO). Plenković described the settlement reached with prosecutors as a "confession of serious theft" and a "devastating moment" for Zagreb Mayor Tomášević and the Možemo party.

Kostanjević pleaded guilty and agreed to a settlement, resulting in a two-year and five-month prison sentence and a fine of 40,000 euros. He must also return 450,000 euros he allegedly obtained illegally in the Hipodrom affair. Plenković highlighted that this amount, combined with other funds extracted from the USO, amounts to nearly two million euros in damages.

"What is striking here is the treatment of this issue, and second, this is an objectively very devastating moment for Tomášević and for Možemo," Plenković stated. He contrasted the situation with how the HDZ party might be treated if facing similar accusations, suggesting Možemo's narrative attempts to frame the case as political persecution, initiated by a "known and old HDZ member" Anto Nobilo.

Plenković accused Možemo of hypocrisy and attempting to distance themselves from the scandal. He pointed out that some Možemo representatives are now "fleeing the media" and canceling press conferences, while others deny the severity of the situation. "We are not inventing anything here - the topic was put on air by 'old right-winger' Nobilo, their head of administration for Sports Facilities Management settled, admitting guilt and taking 450,000 euros," Plenković asserted.

He further criticized the party's alleged delay in legally pursuing the recovery of the funds from those who extracted them. Plenković believes this represents a significant political defeat for Možemo, dismissing claims that everyone is the same and stating that Možemo is not acting like the "Snow Whites" they portray themselves to be. He concluded that this is a serious political and legal problem for the city government.