Croatia’s Ruling Alliance Loses Parliamentary Majority After MP is Detained
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Loading... - Nicole Gabe
- 28 Feb 2025
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Croatia's ruling coalition has lost its majority in parliament following a court's decision to place Homeland Movement MP Josip Dabro in pre-trial detention. The court ordered the detention for a month as Dabro faces serious charges related to violating children's rights and illegal possession of weapons.
The court in Osijek cited concerns about the risk of witness tampering in its ruling. Dabro is accused of allowing a minor to handle dangerous weapons, including a pistol and an automatic rifle, and for allegedly throwing an explosive device resembling a hand grenade, thereby endangering the child's safety.
The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) holds 76 seats in the 151-member parliament, in coalition with the right-wing Homeland Movement (DP). With Dabro's detention, the coalition no longer has a majority, which could hinder its ability to pass legislation for at least a month. This situation raises the possibility of early parliamentary elections.
Public opinion surveys indicate that while the HDZ remains the strongest party, its lead is diminishing due to the growing support for the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP). Additionally, the HDZ faces another challenge as elections for mayors and county prefects are scheduled for May.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković addressed the situation on Wednesday, asserting that the loss of Dabro “is not something that could jeopardize the functioning of the government.” He expressed confidence that a parliamentary majority still exists and will continue.
The State Attorney’s Office has requested the lifting of Dabro’s parliamentary immunity due to the ongoing criminal proceedings. They sought pre-trial detention to prevent potential witness tampering and the destruction of evidence. Dabro was arrested in Vinkovci after attending a parliamentary session where his immunity was lifted.
When brought before the Osijek County Court, Dabro remarked to journalists that he had slept “like a baby” behind bars. The State Attorney’s Office claims to have video evidence showing Dabro allowing a minor to handle a weapon; however, the investigation remains confidential due to the involvement of a minor, and the recording has not been made public.
This incident follows Dabro's recent resignation as Minister of Agriculture, which occurred after another video surfaced showing him firing a gun from the passenger seat of a car, prompting an investigation. Further controversy arose when another video emerged of him firing a Kalashnikov in a field.
