The Croatian Banking Association (HUB) on Wednesday refuted in the strongest terms speculations that there had been any lobbying at a recent meeting between the government and the governor of the Croatian National Bank and commercial banks that had lost the lawsuit brought by private citizens who were recommended by the banks to take out loans tied to the Swiss franc, to have the government influence the judiciary in the the 'Swiss franc' case.
The Banking Association is obliged to refute the malicious speculations that were presented to the public concerning the meeting in the government office which was attended by representatives of the HNB and commercial banks, HUB said in a statement.
The statement said that one of the most important topics of the meeting was the issue of the foreign currency clause and a variable interest rate as the foundation of the economy and not only the lending business in Croatia.
HUB reiterates that the meeting with the government did not discuss details of the concrete court proceedings, stressing that this entirely fell within the remit of the Croatian judiciary.
HUB's statement was prompted by an open letter which the Franak association and three human rights organisations on Wednesday sent to the Croatian government, the President of Croatia, the European Commission and several other institutions saying that the government had succumbed to the pressure from a banking lobby following a non-final judgment in the case of loans pegged to the Swiss franc.
