Croatian Parliament Deputy Speaker Vladimir Seks has dismissed claims by former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader that undemocratic developments are under way in Croatia, saying that "the fight against corruption started and gained momentum after Sanader's withdrawal from active politics."
Sanader, who abruptly resigned as Prime Minister at the beginning of July last year, delayed his term as a parliamentary deputy on July 9, 2009, citing personal reasons, and filed a request for its activation on October 14, 2010. He won a term on the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) slate in 2007's parliamentary election. Since he was expelled from the party early this year, he will serve as an independent MP.
Speaking to reporters after a swearing-in ceremony in parliament on Thursday, Sanader said that "unbelievable and undemocratic developments" had forced him to return to politics.
Commenting on Sanader's statement, Seks told reporters in Split on Saturday that he did not know what Sanader meant by that.
"Maybe he wanted to say that after his withdrawal from politics last year measures were taken by Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, the government and the ruling coalition that maximally stepped up the fight against corruption and organised crime," said Seks.
He underlined that "the fight against corruption started and gained momentum after Sanader's withdrawal from politics" and that no one was untouchable in the fight against corruption.
Speaking of Sanader's remark about undemocratic developments, Seks said in an ironic tone that Sanader might have been referring to "the unblocking of Croatia's talks with the European Union that was accomplished by the cabinet of PM Kosor and the ruling coalition".
"All events and reforms, notably the judicial reform that has brought the country to the EU's door, happened after Sanader left active politics."
Further interpreting Sanader's statement about undemocratic developments, Seks said the former PM might have been referring to "the HDZ, the PM and the government having thwarted his attempt to control the government and some ministers through a parallel chain of command."
When asked if Sanader would be stripped of immunity as an MP, Seks said that it would happen if criminal proceedings were launched against him and if an indictment against him was upheld.
Seks was in Split to attend a meeting of the International Paneuropean Union.
