Plenković's Maneuver: Zovko as a Shield, Southern Interconnection as a Burden

By Rasim Belko @rasimbelko

American pressure to adopt the Law on the Southern Gas Interconnection Republic of Croatia - Bosnia and Herzegovina in December this year came at the most unfavorable time for the ruling party HDZ and the Prime Minister of the neighboring country, Andrej Plenković.

Faced with the fact that the American administration, of which he was a favorite, is soon leaving, but also with the national interest of the world's most powerful force, Plenković found himself in a serious political deadlock on the eve of the Croatian presidential campaign.

Because, the potential burden of betraying Croatian interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina would be a serious weight in Dragan Primorac's (HDZ) attempt to succeed Zoran Milanović as President of the Republic of Croatia.

Faced with the new American reality and the outgoing administration's need to complete the legislative process regarding the national interest of the Southern Interconnection, Plenković had to walk a tightrope so as not to offend his strategic partner on the global level and his political brother on the regional level, Dragan Čović.

The Prime Minister of Croatia, in Banja Luka, as a guest of Milorad Dodik, said what Dragan Čović least wants to hear: “It is also our strategic interest that this project be realized. Our position is that in any case, the structure of the company on the BiH side should be such that Croats are represented as a constituent people, there is no doubt about that, and that means the Federation of BiH. We believe that a solution will be found that can and must be acceptable to everyone, and gas is there for us to bring it to the border of BiH and for it to function in the transport system”.

Media in Herzegovina outside of HDZ's control interpreted this statement as a jab at Dragan Čović, which put Dragan Primorac's campaign in trouble, because without the support of Čović's HDZ and votes from BiH, he can hardly defeat Milanović.

To save Plenković's reputation, HDZ of Croatia, and Primorac's campaign, something was needed that would resonate far beyond internal relations in Croatia, i.e., unify conservative and right-wing voters on issues “that are not up for debate”.

Željana Zovko served the purpose, because her statements, no matter how intellectually transparent, usually ignite the scene and relations between BiH and Croatia, as well as domestically. Plenković's HDZ PR managers made sure that her statement from a gathering in May this year was made public, and the media did the rest of the work.

Thus, the propaganda message from the campaign before the parliamentary elections in Croatia was re-fabricated and perfectly served as a shield to divert attention from the story about the Southern Interconnection and Plenković's stance, while simultaneously clearing the way for Dragan Primorac to count on the votes of BiH Croats.

“Thanks to President Plenković and thanks to what he has done for us, the Council of Ministers has been achieved, but we still have another big goal. What's next, President Plenković, what do you need to deliver for us? The Presidency in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” were the words of vital interest to the HDZ campaign managers.

Without intending to underestimate the aggressive tone of the statement, which is no longer surprising from Zovko, it is clear that the assumption about the potential reaction of the BiH public and politics was well done, so the media space was flooded with reactions, analyses, and comments.

Which is also senseless, because every statement by Zovko has a common denominator in Croatia's hegemonic policy that extends from Tuđman and does not stop with Plenković, so it is necessary, primarily in Sarajevo, to understand that Zovko is a court jester and not to “fall” for her at first glance because court jesters speak when needed, not out of reason.

The story about the passports of Bakir Izetbegović's family members served the same purpose, just as Željana Zovko can fire some new verbal shot today or tomorrow to occupy the public.

And instead of a response, the public opinion of Bosnia and Herzegovina should focus on issues that are truly vital for us in this country. Because, court jesters are just entertainers who protect the king and nothing more.