site.btaCroatian Legislators Mull No-Confidence Motion against Government over Corruption Scandal in Health Care

The Croatian legislators started debating Monday a no-confidence motion against the government of Andrej Plenkovic over a corruption scandal involving a former Health Minister, reported the Croatian service of the N1 TV. The 17-page motion with 14 items in it was submitted by the opposition Social Democratic Party. It catalogues cases of participation of ministers and other senior officials connected with the Croatian democratic community, in a series of corruption scandals in the recent years.

In the latest corruption scandal in the country last month, former Health Minister Vili Beros was arrested and EPPO, the European prosecutor's office, accuses him of accepting bribes. Croatia's chief prosecutor Ivan Turudic initially said Beros was accused of influence peddling in an investigation led by Croatia's anti-corruption office. Turudic then added the accusation of accepting bribes from a separate investigation led by EPPO.

Beros has denied any wrongdoing. He was fired on November 15 when he was arrested and detained for a month while the Croatian investigation was ongoing, but was released 10 days later after all witnesses in his case were questioned.

The vote on the no-confidence motion is expected Friday. It will need 76 votes in the 151-seat parliament to go through. According to local media, the opposition can count on 71 votes.

If the motion is passes, Croatia could face early parliamentary elections, but analysts say the opposition is unlikely to rally the necessary support. The last parliamentary elections were held in April this year.

Speaking in Parliament Monday, Plenkovic rejected the accusations against his government. 

This will be the second vote of no confidence in the government. In May, 79 MPs rejected another no-confidence motion tabled by the opposition.