Plenković decides: Ivan Anušić to be new Croatian Defence Minister

(Patria) - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said today that he will propose Ivan Anušić as the new Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister, and expects him to be confirmed on Thursday at the plenary session of the Sabor.

Mario Banožić was dismissed from the position of Minister of Defence after being involved in a traffic accident on Saturday in which one person died.

Anušić is the prefect of Osijek-Baranja County and vice-president of the HDZ.

Plenković says that Anušić received full consensual support at the party level.

- After that, we held consultations with all our colleagues in the parliamentary majority. He also received full support from them - he added.

Plenković emphasises that Anušić immediately accepted the offer and is ready to prepare for the hearing before the relevant parliamentary committee.

- I expect the committee on Wednesday and support at the plenary session on Thursday, so that, for example, on Thursday afternoon, Ivan Anušić will be in office and a member of the government - added Plenković.

He also states that in the event of Anušić's confirmation, Mato Lukić, who is currently one of the two deputy prefects, would replace him as prefect for the remainder of the term.

When asked by journalists why he decided on Anušić for minister, given some of their previous disagreements, Plenković said that sometimes having different views on certain issues does not mean they are not part of the same team and the top leadership of the HDZ.

- It is logical that Ivan, given his extensive experience, which he now has in political engagement at both the municipal and county levels, as well as in national activities as a former member of parliament and as a Croatian war veteran.

He has all the references to be Minister of Defence and will fit into the team and function normally as before - Plenković stated.