SDP pozvao županicu Antoniju Jozić da raspiše transparentne natječaje za potpore

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) of the Požeško-Slavonska County has called on Mayor Anto Jozic, representing the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), to immediately cancel the transparent tendering process for financial support in economy and agriculture, insisting on clearly defined scoring criteria and deadlines that ensure equal participation for all interested parties. According to the party’s regional leader, Martina Vlašić Iljkić, who is also a member of parliament, the tenders for economic support and increased agricultural production have yet to be announced. She emphasized that local authorities lack solutions for issues raised by the opposition. Vlašić Iljkić pointed out that last year's economic support tender, worth 200,000 euros, was open for just two hours, preventing many entrepreneurs from submitting their applications. The SDP had previously requested the cancellation of that tender and the announcement of a new one with clear evaluation criteria and a reasonable deadline for submissions. The party expresses concern that the Požeško-Slavonska County might again apply a model of distributing funds based on “fastest finger,” rather than evaluating project quality. Vlašić Iljkić noted that this approach continues to be used, citing a recent tender for agricultural support in the Brodsko-Posavska County. The SDP urges the mayor of Brodsko-Posavska County, Danijel Marušić (HDZ), to cancel the controversial tender and announce a new one with equal submission periods for all interested parties and clearly defined allocation criteria. In addition to the tendering concerns, the SDP criticized the mayor’s handling of issues related to the operation of the compost plant in Kutjevo and the dispute with the "Little Prince" Association regarding the future center for children with developmental difficulties. The party asserts that public funds must be managed transparently and responsibly. Vlašić Iljkić also mentioned that she had sent parliamentary questions to the relevant ministers and the Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, concerning a June internet fraud case that reportedly caused several hundred thousand euros in damages to the Požeško-Slavonska County. She stated that she has not yet received responses to these inquiries. The SDP’s call for transparency comes amid ongoing scrutiny over how public resources are allocated in the region. The party argues that the current system favors speed over merit, potentially disadvantaging smaller businesses and local producers. By advocating for more structured and equitable processes, the SDP aims to align local governance with broader national standards of accountability and fairness. The situation highlights growing tensions between political factions over the management of public finances and the integrity of administrative procedures. As the SDP pushes for reform, the response from local authorities will determine whether such changes can be implemented effectively. The outcome could influence not only local policy but also the broader landscape of public administration in Croatia.