Croatian President Zoran Milanović declared that he would ignore a warning from the Constitutional Court that he could not run for prime minister in the 17 April general election, according to bne IntelliNews.
“I despise warnings. [The Constitutional Court] cannot do anything to me. They violate the constitution and pose a mortal threat to Croatian democracy. I will not comply and will do what my conscience tells me, which is to take care of the functioning of the system.”
Milanović stated earlier in March that he would run for prime minister and, if his SDP party won, he would step down from the presidency. However, the Constitutional Court ruled that Milanović is prohibited from participating in any political activity during his term in office.
The constitution does not prohibit it. Declaring that something is not in the spirit of the constitution is not valid. In a liberal democracy, what is not forbidden is allowed to citizens, and I am a citizen.
Milanović added that he had not yet decided whether he would also run in the European elections. The court declared that if he decided to run in parliamentary elections or declare himself a future candidate for prime minister, he should immediately submit his resignation to the head of the Constitutional Court. The Speaker of Parliament would then assume the role of interim President of the country, as stipulated in the constitutional provisions.
The President nominated his candidacy for prime minister in the upcoming parliamentary elections at a press conference together with the leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) Peđa Grbin on 15 March.
The Croatian Prime Minister wields considerable political power, whereas the President has the right to appoint the Prime Minister based on election results and has influence over foreign policy as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
He expressed confidence in his electoral prospects and promised to deliver a smooth transition from the presidency to running a government where he would “throw out thieves, oppressors and their helpers,” building a fairer Croatia.
Previously, Milanović served as Croatia’s prime minister from 2011 to 2016.
