Powerful Family and the Scandal Shaking Croatia!
Welcome to a world where politics and private interests dance in perfect harmony, and powerful connections decide the fate of companies and the state! The main players? Nataša Mikuš Žigman, the new Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, her husband Ante Žigman, head of the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency (HANFA), and their close ties with former Deputy Prime Minister Martina Dalić.
Family Ties That Rule
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković introduced Nataša Mikuš Žigman as a candidate for minister, praising her ability to take full responsibility from day one. But was that the only criterion? Nataša’s career and that of her husband Ante Žigman are deeply intertwined with Martina Dalić’s career, a key figure in Croatian politics and economy.
Ante Žigman is a longtime chairman of HANFA and a close associate of Martina Dalić, while Nataša Mikuš Žigman was a state secretary in the ministry led by Dalić. This trio worked together in various state and private institutions, including Podravka and Partner Bank.
The Borg Scandal and Lex Agrokor – Dark Secrets Behind the Scenes
It all culminated in the Borg scandal, where secret emails revealed how Martina Dalić and her close associates, including Plenković, manipulated information about Agrokor, Croatia’s largest conglomerate in trouble. The Prime Minister defended Dalić multiple times, but she eventually had to resign.
Despite this, her husband Ante Žigman remained head of HANFA, even after an audit revealed that 89 HANFA employees illegally traded securities! The government tried to cover up this scandal, and the parliamentary finance committee refused to discuss it.
Security Incidents and Political Pressure
HANFA also suffered the most serious security incident in the history of the public sector – losing all data due to a cyberattack. Additionally, the Financial Times reported on Croatian government pressure on German Allianz to acquire the Russian stake in Fortenova, fueling suspicions of political instrumentalization of the regulator.
Podravka and Political Games
After Martina Dalić left the government, she became the chairwoman of Podravka, while Nataša Mikuš Žigman took a director position in the business sustainability and green transformation sector at the same company. Pension funds, holding about half of Podravka’s shares, reportedly favored other candidates, but politics played its role.
What Does This Tell Us?
This story is a perfect example of how power and private interests mix in Croatia. Families and friends in high positions, scandals being covered up, and institutions that don’t function properly. And ordinary citizens? They watch and wonder – where is justice?
Conclusion
If you thought politics in Croatia was just a job, think again. It’s a family business with high stakes and even bigger scandals. The Borg scandal, lex Agrokor, HANFA scandals, and unbroken political ties – all show how hard it is to separate power from private interests.
So, dear readers, what do you think? Is this just the tip of the iceberg or is the system deeply corrupt? Drop a comment, crack a joke, or just share your thoughts – stories like this deserve to be heard and talked about!
This is just the beginning, and the real drama is yet to come.
