PM Needs Bulletproof Car, He is Expecting Uprising

The opposition considers that Croatia is near the point where the people will take to the streets.

When the SDP (Social Democratic Party) parliamentarian Nenad Stazic heard the news that premier Ivo Sanader bought a bullet-proof BMW for 4.2 million kuna, he was left without words. He needed a few moments to fire upon the president of the ruling party in his usual style:

“I do not know why he needs that car, and I cannot answer the question why he needed this behaviour. On one hand his Cabinet brings decisions to reduce teachers’ salaries, he called upon state savings, and on the other hand he shows this unexplainable arrogance. His attempt to cover up the purchase of a new car is proof of a moral perversion. I think that with this move he has lost the faith of the citizens, because he showed that he is not a person worth any sort of respect. I am afraid that in Croatia, just like in Greece, people could massively take to the streets, and then Sanader could gather his watches from the asphalt”.

His party colleague Boris Sprem briefly commented:

“That is immoral! However when this administration is in question, it is as if a plan was in question. I remember when six new Passats were being ordered for HEP, leading up to the budget, and now when it is being rebalanced, cars are being changed again. I do not know why they insist on expensive German cars. We should take notice of the president’s office, which turned to cheaper Toyotas in 2007. Or for example we could get the Skoda Supreb which is also cheaper, and when it is black it looks elegant and can serve for protocol” said the ex chief secretary of HAK and the head of the president’s office.

Expecting an uprising

Dragutin Lesar, an independent parliamentarian, considers that premier Sanader bought a bullet-proof car because he is expecting a revolution:

“It would be very good for HDZ to announce who the donator is. Maybe some offshore company from the Cayman Islands. With this move they showed their hypocrisy. Yesterday Sanader was in the Cabinet saying that if the budget fall, the state falls, and at the same time he gives to much money for a party car. He gave a message that this crisis can only bring out the poor people” said Lesar.

Daniel Srb is also not happy with the premier’s new acquisition, even though his HSP (Croatian Party of Rights) is a coalition partner with HDZ in Osijek:

“What I agree with is that you should not go overboard with luxury on overly luxurious equipment. However, I agree that the premier should have a suitable car. I assume that the intention was that the car was not bought at the expense of the cabinet. I would not enter HDZ’s incomes. I consider that the president of HDZ should not have been given such an expensive car out of solidarity with the hard economic situation in the country” said Srb.

Damir Kajin from IDS (Istrian Democratic Parliament) says that these “gimmicks” by the ruling party make him laugh:

“Look, if Bandic can buy a armoured vehicle and think about acquiring unmanned planes, then Sanader can afford himself a bullet-proof car, because he could need it when the people raise a revolution when they realise what it has gotten him in. However, here is the game like with the old silver BMW. Somebody donated it to him. However, half a million euros is not given for nothing. HDZ cannot return that favour, but the cabinet can, which he leads. Now it is only a question of which concession will be give away, or whose cars will be acquired, or whose land will be urbanised… Some of that will occur” said Kajin.

Croatia´s PM Buys 4.2 Mln Kuna Worth BMW!