Croatian deputy PM resigns over video of him firing gun

Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister Josip Dabro has resigned after a video surfaced showing him shooting randomly from a moving car. The footage, which gained widespread attention, showed Dabro in the passenger seat of a vehicle, laughing and singing along to music, before picking up a pistol and firing it through an open window into the dark.

The incident, which took place several years ago, sparked significant controversy. Dabro, who represents the hard-right nationalist Homeland Movement party, defended his actions, claiming that the video was old and that he had used training bullets. Despite his explanation, the behavior was deemed “inappropriate and irresponsible” by the government, which led to his resignation. Dabro, who also served as the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, stated in a resignation post on Facebook that he did not wish to be a distraction to the coalition government.

The video’s release earlier in the week created a political storm, especially as it followed a series of scandals involving members of Croatia’s ruling coalition. Dabro’s Homeland Movement is part of a broader coalition with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s center-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). This coalition has faced increasing pressure, with Dabro’s resignation coming shortly after Health Minister Vili Bros was dismissed in November over a corruption investigation.

In his resignation statement, Dabro mentioned that he had been under “significant pressure and threats” due to his plans for reforming the agriculture department, suggesting that the video may have been used as a means to undermine his position. Despite the controversy surrounding him, Dabro’s resignation marks the latest in a series of challenges faced by the Croatian government.

Croatia’s political landscape has been further complicated by the recent re-election of Zoran Milanovic as president. Milanovic, who won nearly three-quarters of the vote, defeated Dragan Primorac, the candidate backed by the HDZ party. Milanovic’s second term has drawn criticism from Plenkovic, who dismissed the president’s role, claiming that Milanovic “offers nothing” to the country. Although the president’s role in Croatia is largely ceremonial, the political rivalry between Milanovic and Plenkovic has heightened tensions within the ruling coalition.

Dabro’s resignation adds to the mounting pressure facing Croatia’s government, as the coalition grapples with internal challenges and the fallout from recent controversies. The video scandal, in particular, has raised questions about the conduct of government officials and the ability of the coalition to maintain public trust. Despite the challenges, Prime Minister Plenkovic’s HDZ party remains a dominant force in the coalition, with Plenkovic continuing to push forward with his agenda, including ongoing reforms in various sectors.

The resignation of Dabro highlights the growing tensions within Croatia’s political environment, with scandals and controversies overshadowing the work of the coalition government. As the country faces increasing pressure both domestically and internationally, the effectiveness of the coalition’s governance and its ability to implement reforms will be tested in the coming months. For now, Dabro’s departure represents the latest chapter in a turbulent period for Croatia’s political leadership.

About The Author

Ama Oprah

See author's posts