DistantNews
Support us
Soon live: Milanović addresses public from Pantovčak
🇭🇷 Croatia /Elections & Politics

Soon live: Milanović addresses public from Pantovčak

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Croatian President Zoran Milanović will address the public regarding a dispute with the government over military participation in a French Bastille Day parade.
  • The government plans for Croatian soldiers to attend the Paris ceremony, a move President Milanović opposes.
  • Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated that military ceremonial departures are under the Defense Minister's purview, not the President's.

Croatian President Zoran Milanović is set to address the public today from his office on Pantovčak, with a key focus expected to be his ongoing dispute with the government over the participation of Croatian soldiers in the traditional Bastille Day military parade in France.

Protocolary-ceremonial departures of the Croatian Army are not within his jurisdiction, but within the jurisdiction of the Minister of Defense.

— Andrej PlenkovićPrime Minister of Croatia, asserting the government's authority over military deployments for ceremonial events.

The government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, announced plans for members of the Honor Guard Battalion to travel to Paris in mid-July to attend the ceremony alongside the Prime Minister. However, President Milanović has firmly stated that Croatian soldiers will not participate in this particular event.

Croatia is invited as a country that has an agreement on strategic partnership and excellent cooperation with France.

— Andrej PlenkovićExplaining the context of Croatia's invitation to the Bastille Day ceremony.

Adding to the tension, Prime Minister Plenković asserted yesterday that ceremonial military departures fall under the authority of the Minister of Defense, not the President of the Republic. He emphasized that Croatia, as a state with a strategic partnership and excellent cooperation with France, has been invited to the event. Plenković indicated that the Minister of Defense would insist on the request to the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces for the military's presence at the ceremonial event.

The Minister of Defense will insist on the request sent to the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces that the Croatian Army be at that ceremonial event.

— Andrej PlenkovićIndicating the government's firm stance on military participation.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister issued a warning to the Chief of the General Staff, Tihomir Kundid, stating that failure to comply with the Defense Minister's request would result in a loss of his confidence and an expectation of resignation. This public statement escalates the political friction between the President and the Prime Minister over military protocol and international engagements.

If he does not fulfill the request of the Minister of Defense, he will lose my confidence and I will expect his resignation.

— Andrej PlenkovićIssuing a direct warning to the Chief of the General Staff regarding compliance with the government's directive.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog