Minister Cigler The King has bought a tayrona, and Minister Čalušić has bought a boat

Minister Cigler Kralj has acquired a patrol boat, while former Agriculture Minister Mateja Čalušić is linked to the purchase of a yacht, according to recent reports. The Agriculture Ministry has invested heavily in maritime assets, including a new inspection vessel and a private yacht, raising questions about their usage and transparency. The ministry purchased a 9.8-meter-long patrol boat named Perun from the Croatian manufacturer Pičuljan based on the island of Rab. The vessel, designated for fisheries inspections, cost €1.169.980 with VAT, marking the largest individual investment under the fisheries fund. It allows six inspectors to conduct checks aboard the boat, which was deployed earlier this year. This acquisition is one of two notable purchases involving the ministry and its former officials. The second involves a yacht bought through the Anima Istra project, aimed at promoting coastal tourism. The yacht, a 10-meter motorboat named Anima Mare, was purchased using public funds in 2021. However, the project appears to have failed to meet its stated goals beyond acquiring the boat itself. According to the regional news portal Regional Obala, the company Goistra d.o.o., led by Andrej Krmac, secured €195,904 in European funds for the project. The plan included organizing wine tastings, culinary events, fishing promotions, and sightseeing cruises along the Slovenian coast. Despite these ambitions, the project's activities were limited to a few months, from July to December 2022. Since then, the project’s website has remained unchanged for over three years, and Facebook posts related to the yacht ceased in December 2022. Krmac, who later became a business associate of Čalušić, left Goistra in July 2025, nearly a year and a half after Čalušić was appointed minister. The portal questioned whether the yacht had been used for personal purposes by Čalušić and her partner. While Čalušić denied such claims, she admitted to having used the boat. In August 2022, Goistra posted updates about trips taken with the Anima Mare. These posts ended in December 2022, leaving unclear what has become of the boat funded by public money. When asked for details about the project’s outcomes, including the number of excursions, guests, jobs created, or economic impact, Goistra did not provide specific information. They also declined to share the final project report. Jure Džampa, owner and director of Goistra, told Regional Obala in June that his company continues to offer services related to the boat and project, but now targets high-profile clients willing to pay more for comfort. He explained that the promotion of coastal tourism has shifted into an exclusive niche service catering to wealthy individuals rather than the broader public. The acquisitions highlight the intersection of government funding and private interests in maritime projects. While the patrol boat Perun serves a clear official function, the fate of the Anima Mare raises concerns about accountability and the effective use of public resources. The lack of detailed reporting on the project’s achievements and current status underscores the need for greater transparency in how such funds are utilized. Public interest in these developments remains high, particularly regarding the potential misuse of state funds and the role of political connections in securing contracts. As investigations continue, further details about the management and outcomes of both projects are expected to emerge. The situation has prompted calls for clearer oversight mechanisms to ensure that public investments yield tangible benefits for the community and align with stated objectives. Until then, the focus remains on the practical application of these maritime assets and their alignment with public policy goals.