Selak Raspudić: "While Plenković and Milanović are fighting, the army is losing people"

The recent controversy surrounding Croatia's military participation in a ceremonial parade in Paris has sparked significant debate among legal experts, political figures, and public officials. At the center of the discussion is President Zoran Milanović, who has firmly stated that he will not allow Croatian troops to attend the event unless he personally authorizes their deployment. This stance has been challenged by constitutional scholars, including Dr. Matija Miloš from the University of Rijeka’s Law Faculty, who argue that the president's interpretation of his role as commander-in-chief may be legally inaccurate.

According to Miloš, the president does not represent the army domestically or internationally but rather the Republic of Croatia itself. He emphasized that while the president holds the position of supreme commander, this role is distinct from representing the country in diplomatic matters. The legal framework governing defense, Miloš explained, outlines specific scenarios where collaboration between the president and the minister of defense is required, particularly in cases involving armed conflict. However, in situations such as the upcoming parade in Paris—where the military is expected to participate in a ceremonial display rather than engage in combat—the decision rests solely with the minister of defense. According to the law, once the minister issues such an order, the head of the general staff must carry it out without exception.

Miloš further noted that the president has no legal means to prevent the military from attending the event in Paris. If the president disagrees with the law, he would need to initiate a process before the Constitutional Court to assess its constitutionality. However, Miloš suggested that such a move is unlikely given the current political climate. He also addressed the possibility of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković requesting the resignation of Chief of Staff Tihomir Kundida should he comply with the president's directive. Miloš clarified that it is the government—not the prime minister—that could request the president to replace the chief of staff, though he deemed such a scenario improbable.

President Milanović himself has made clear his opposition to sending Croatian soldiers to the Paris parade. During a press conference following a city council meeting in Supetar, he remarked that he was unaware of exactly whom Plenković intended to send to Paris, jokingly suggesting it might be "majorettes." However, he reiterated that the military would not attend unless he gave explicit permission. His comments were in response to reports that the government had received an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in May, yet had taken no action until recently.

Milanović criticized Plenković for handling the situation in a manner he described as "primitive," noting that the prime minister had delayed responding to the invitation despite having received it months prior. He argued that the decision to participate in the parade should rest with him, as the supreme commander under the Constitution, and that the government's hesitation was unbecoming of a leader. He also pointed out that other members of the so-called Coalition of Willing have been invited to the event, including Serbia, which has its own military parade planned for the same occasion.

In addition to the issue of the Paris parade, Milanović touched upon several other topics during his remarks. He discussed the recent ruling by the Supreme Court regarding credits denominated in Swiss francs, stating that the outcome was a result of his government's efforts to protect citizens from predatory banking practices. He also commented on the removal of honors from Branimir Glavaš, explaining that he would reconsider granting them back if the court's final judgment reaffirmed his innocence. Regarding inflation-fighting measures proposed by the government, Milanović humorously deflected the question, suggesting that the media had already covered the topic extensively.

As for the World Cup, Milanović confirmed that he would not travel to watch matches featuring the Croatian national team, citing the logistical challenges posed by the prime minister's entourage. He concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the decision on whether the Croatian military attends the Paris parade ultimately rests with him, and that the government should respect his authority in such matters.