Chaos in the Croatian Parliament: Plenković speaks, but no one listens

(Patria) - For Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, since he delivers his annual report on the state of the nation at the autumn session, today is his toughest day in the Croatian Parliament.

As Croatian media report, the opposition - both left and right - is continuously banging on tables during today's session, making it impossible to hear what he intends to say.

The opposition has not tired for half an hour, but Plenković is not giving up on his report despite the constant uproar in the chamber.

The government's track record over the past period and the announcement of measures for the upcoming one cannot break through the amount of noise.

The formal reason for blocking the report on the work of the government and Prime Minister Plenković is a provision of the Rules of Procedure which does not allow individual debates on the report.

Namely, only representatives of parliamentary clubs, 16 of them for 20 minutes each, can speak on Plenković's report, but individual deputy debates are not possible.

The opposition criticized the prime minister for not being in the chamber before the debate.

While the HDZ insisted that he did not even need to be there, the opposition opened fire and demanded breaks.

What do you hear? This is the sound of rebellion against a stolen state! For an hour, AP has the right to speak about the state of the nation. We have the right not to give up in the fight for an uncorrupted, just, democratic, and our country! pic.twitter.com/n8l1ppF9Kn

— Dalija Orešković (@OreskovicDalija) October 24, 2023

Marija Selak Raspudić (Most) initiated the question of where the prime minister is, "has he finally realized that it is time for new elections," accusing him of being below the level of not being there and that his ego is bigger than the Parliament.

SDP's Sabina Glasovac demanded that the session be interrupted, warning that deputies have the right to participate in the debate.

Nino Raspudić ironically asked where the prime minister is and offered answers: "Maybe he was arrested. Maybe he is fleeing to Austria, like Sanader, or maybe he suddenly had guests."

Katarina Peović (Workers' Front) expressed the view that the Rules of Procedure are a complete farce, making the report meaningless and turning it into statistical manipulation.

HDZ's Damir Habijan accused the opposition of manipulation, to which Sandra Benčić (We Can!) retorted: "the only destruction is your destruction, and that has been going on for seven years."

Krešo Beljak corrected her: "Not seven, but 34 years."

When the prime minister arrived in the chamber, Most's Nikola Grmoja started heckling him, to which Plenković replied that he was a little democrat.

When you don't want to let others speak, because you think your ego is stronger than any rule, then others won't let you either! pic.twitter.com/IkXWVzvWyS

— Pedja Grbin (@pedjagrbin) October 24, 2023

Then he began his speech, but the opposition decided not to listen.