The Constitutional Court of Croatia stopped President Zoran Milanovic from campaigning for the prime ministerial position in the upcoming elections, while he is still holding his presidential office. The court stated he needs to relinquish his presidency before he could run for prime minister. Milanovic, whose presidential tenure is to end in February 2025, held a significantly influential post as the prime minister from 2011 to 2016.
Milanovic had dissolved the parliament and announced April 17th as the date for the legislative elections. He had expressed his desire to contest for the prime minister’s position and resolved to resign only “once the polls declare him victorious”.
The court asserted that the President’s job makes running as a political aspirant infeasible. Miroslav Šeparovic, the president of the constitutional court, declared, “The President of Croatia is expected to be impartial and shouldn’t participate in any party’s political affairs.”
Šeparovic emphasised that Milanovic must tender his resignation to the constitutional court immediately if he wishes to stand for parliamentary elections or makes any public declarations as a potential prime minister candidate.
Šeparovic stated, “He has contravened the constitution with his behaviour and statements, claiming he will take part in the elections and making political proclamations.”
Despite the court’s decision, which Milanovic dismissed as a “constitutional coup d’etat”, he insisted that he wouldn’t quit for the sake of contesting in the elections.
Over the weekend, Milanovic acquired endorsement from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for prime minister candidacy when he made his intention public. Whilst Grbin, SDP’s leader, assured compliance with the court’s verdict on Monday, he affirmed the party’s undeterred support for the president.
Grbin announced in a press meet, “From now, I am barred from stating that Milanovic will secure a mandate to form the succeeding Croatian government, or that he will become the forthcoming Croatian premier, at least till the election outcomes are publicised,” adding, “And then we will voice that.”
Šeparovic stated that throughout the electoral process, the court would supervise and penalise any constitutional breaches, urging Milanovic and the SDP to desist from all unconstitutional deeds. – Reuters
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