President's Office: Croatia Should Skip Paris Parade, Government Threatens Military Chief

Presidential office chief of staff Orsat Miljenić has sharply criticized the government's handling of the decision to send Croatian troops to Paris for the July 14 parade. Miljenić stated that Croatia should not participate due to a lack of reciprocity, as France did not send representatives to Croatia's 30th-anniversary commemoration of Operation Storm. He also pointed to France's defense ministry describing the event as a "coalition of the willing," suggesting it is a political rather than ceremonial gathering.

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What the government is doing, Miljenić calls 'harassment and revenge.'

Miljenić accused the government of creating a crisis by going public with threats instead of engaging in dialogue, despite having written communication of the president's negative stance. He emphasized that the Chief of the General Staff, Tihomir Kundid, acted lawfully by obeying the supreme commander's order, as is his duty under the constitution and law. Miljenić dismissed threats of disciplinary action against Kundid as unfounded and suggested he could not be dismissed.

"What the government is doing, Miljenić calls 'harassment and revenge.' So, do you have a prepared response if Kundid's retirement is initiated at the President's Office? All our responses are in line with the Constitution and the law. I am sure it will not happen and there will be no need for it, but of course, we have it," Miljenić stated. He expressed disbelief that any Croatian government would sanction a military chief for following the law and the constitution, which would leave the Croatian army without command, potentially causing a severe crisis.

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All our responses are in line with the Constitution and the law. I am sure it will not happen and there will be no need for it, but of course, we have it.

Miljenić also addressed the president's intention to exercise his constitutional powers regarding Croatia's representation in the European Council, currently handled solely by the prime minister. He expects the government to consult the President's Office on matters falling under the president's constitutional jurisdiction.

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I cannot imagine a Croatian government, any government, that would go so far as to sanction a man for respecting the law and the Constitution and leave the Croatian army without command.