The Croatian Association of Trade Unions (HUS) said on Wednesday that President Ivo Josipovic's statement on Tuesday about a culture of complaining in Croatia was "entirely inappropriate" and that the President, guided by his own ambitions and interests, demonstrated "an enviable degree of political nonchalance and lack of principle."
By saying that Croatia's big ailment was its culture of complaining, that most people would rather complain than work and that this must change, Josipovic sent out a clear message to any undecided centres of power in the country that he was ready to submit to the interests of those who would like to see him continue in presidential office, the HUS said in a statement.
"Despite the economic and social collapse of the country, which no longer requires statistical indications as an illustration, the President makes disgusting statements in order to curry favour with possible sponsors and plans to win a second term in office by shifting the responsibility from himself and his clique onto the poor," the statement said.
The HUS asked the President why he was refusing its demand to exercise his constitutional powers and call a session of the government over the catastrophic state of the economy and the labour market. It warned the President that he had a duty under the Constitution to look after the functioning and stability of the government system rather than "lecture the poor and pretend how smart and level-headed" he was.
