Platform 112 and Green Forum demand that Radimir Čačić is Removed from Office

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The coalition of association Platform 112 joined last Wednesday, July 11, 2012, the demands of the Green Forum for removal from office of  deputy PM Radimir Čačić over his attempt to get Josip Jambrač, unqualified member of his HNS party, appointed in the position of deputy Director of Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency.

Radimir Čačić has to be removed from office, CSOs say (Photo vlada.hr, from Flickr.com)

According to Platform 112, Čačić thus seriously undermined the fundaments of responsible governance in public institutions. Noting that the director of the Fund and his/her deputy are chosen in a public contest and that it was legitimate to members of political parties to apply, the Platform adds that it is irresponsible and cause of concern for the stability of institutions to see that holders of highest offices of power were prepared to change the constitutional acts of public bodies to ensure that their cronies will get the appointment.

“It proves that this Government continues with appointment policies based solely on political criteria, and that the recent resignation of minister Mirela Holy was an isolated case, not true manifestation of discontinuity with the policies implemented by HDZ for almost 17 years”, Platform 112 says in a public statement.

The association gathered in the Platform warn Prime Minister Zoran Milanović that transparent and lasting rules and procedures provide the foundations for any developed democratic society and that the functioning of democratic societies is based on the ability of its representatives to achieve their political goals through those rules and procedures.

“Those who can’t do that, have to step aside and accept the fact that they can’t hold decision-making positions in a democratic society”, the Platform 112 says.

It adds that the citizens of Croatian will not endorse the thesis that the state and its economy depend on a single member of Government. Furthermore, they find that position dangerous because it puts in inferior position democracy and the rule of law, in favour of a possible future economic prosperity.

The network of environmental associations Green Forum (Zeleni forum) already demanded Čačić's removal from office because of the fact that the deputy prime minister “used threats and unacceptable pressure” to ensure the appointment of unqualified colleague from his own party to the extremely responsible position at the Fund that finances key environmental protection, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The Platform 112 gathers dozens of associations and CSOs in the effort to monitor the situation of human rights and rule of law in Croatia, in the context of the concluding accession negotiations with the European Union. Before the Parliamentary Elections last December, it presented a list of 112 questions to all political parties and candidates running in the election and demanded that they present their positions on each of those questions.

The Green Forum gathers 41 environmental associations from all parts of Croatia. It was established in 1998. (Source: Zelena akcija)