The Day after: Forget the EU, what about domestic prices

And, what would you say to the citizens, one host of a TV show asked a professor of Zagreb Law School after a debate about low numbers of voters at the referendum. I don’t want to say anything, answered the mentioned professor. Everyone had a chance to go to a poll station and chose one option. If you didn’t do that, it is pointless to deny a legitimacy of referendum result, the result that came by consistent appliance of the current constitution and law. So, that’s why the low respond remain as a problem to those who didn’t use their own right to participate the referendum. And Croatia, Croatian citizens and political leadership have one less uncertainty.

A day after the European referendum it seemed like the minister of foreign affairs Vesna Pusic was the only one to remain in that topic, overwhelmed by greetings coming from European ministers of foreign affairs. There is no doubt that Europe is flattered with two third supports of Croatian citizens on entering the EU. Now when the EU lost its attractiveness on the south borders and when it is trying to create a sustainable way out of the crisis, a matter of Croatia not refusing the membership must mean something to Europe.

With one uncertainty less, the Government has to deal so much more. The first problem is a new state budget. While it’s been waiting for definite numbers of outcome side, the income side is in processes big-time. From today, the most necessary type of fuel for motor vehicles will be more than 10 HRK. Taxes and excises on high-priced fuel will raise the state incomes.

The income side is ensured by re-introduction of excites on mobile communication. Unlike the citizens who silently grumble on gasoline price rises, three mobile operators had a very loud reaction. The first one said he was in shock (no matter the same excite had to be paid three weeks ago), the second one announced more dismissal and additional investment cutback, and speaking of telecommunication agencies, large numbers are always involved.

I guess that was the reason why three bosses of telecommunication agencies instantly scheduled a meeting in the Government. Those three were welcomed by one Government vice president, even three department ministers and the boss of regulatory agency. So, five Government representatives talked to those three men. But it looks like it was worth it. The mobile operators realize they have to invest more, the new Government will remove administrative obstacles, and if the agreement goes in the right way, there is possibility of discussion about re-abolition of excites this June. So the mobile operators have been ‘’pacified’’ for some period of time.

And now, one small question: if four ministers were engaged in order to reassure three mobile operators, how many of them (ministers) will be engaged in order to explain the citizens patiently and thoroughly why the prices of gasoline raise, why the general rate of VAT jumps up along with many other prices?