It is no secret that in relation to the President of Croatia Zoran Milanović and the Prime Minister Andrej Plenković no roses bloom. The conflict between the two politicians took on new proportions ahead of the start of the pre-election campaign for the presidential elections - for days Milanović and Plenković have been counting which of the two uses official planes and other vehicles more.
The conflict began at the end of August, after Croatian President Zoran Milanović reported leaks of information about his movements to the Military Intelligence Service. Plenković then told him that Croatia did not buy Black Hawk helicopters to serve as taxis.
The lump that started the avalanche
Milanović did not remain silent on the Prime Minister's accusations. The President of Croatia told journalists in Požega that Plenković and the party team were flying from Gorica to Dugo Selo.
"Plenković should be asked how much kerosene he used and if he is afraid of helicopters," Milanović said, Croatian media reported.
The Croatian head of state said that neither Plenković nor Defense Minister Ivan Anušić knew the difference between a Black Hawk and a Russian helicopter.
"I have been transported by Russian helicopters all summer. There is no difference, Black Hawk can come tomorrow so HDZ can fly to party festivals in Finland. They are not even able to look at what it is about," Milanović said.
Anušić previously commented on Milanović's flights, saying that "an hour of flying a Black Hawk costs 8.000-9.000 euros" and added: "Well, you see now."
The office of the president published the data
It didn't end there. The discussion went so far that Milanović published official data on the number of trips in official vehicles.
"Instead of manipulations and publication of unverified and completely inaccurate data on the use of military helicopters and ships, the Office of the President of the Republic publishes the Report of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, Review of HRZ helicopter flights in the activities of the President of the Republic and Review of the engagement of HRM ships in support of the President's activities of the Republic together with the associated costs," Milanović's office said.
In the report of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (GS OSRH), it was established that the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia used helicopters of the Croatian Air Force (HRZ) a total of 74 times, and ships of the Croatian Navy (HRM) eight times in the period from February 2020 to August 2024. The total cost of fuel was 127.000 euros for HRZ and 22.800 euros for HRM, it is stated.
Anusic: Milanovic is lying
Minister of Defense and Plenković's party colleague Ivan Anušić replied that in his statement, Milanović "misled the public and made untrue claims about the use of military helicopters of the Armed Forces during his mandate".
"Although the orders on the use of military helicopters were previously declassified, Milanović incorrectly interpreted the report of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Colonel-General Tihomir Kundid. The only truth is that military helicopters, at Milanović's request, made 348 flights, i.e. 241 flight hours, during his mandate.
Of these, the Black Hawk helicopter had 90 flights/63 hours and 35 minutes of flight, the Mi-8 MTV 120 flights/80 hours and 20 minutes of flight, and the Mi-171 Sh 138 flights/97 hours and 30 minutes of flight. All of this cost the citizens of Croatia at least one million euros," the statement from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia (MOD) states.
Who rides the government plane anymore?
The topic of using helicopters opened up another question - how many Croatian officials are transported by government aircraft. Croatian journalists sent a query to the government to find out how many times the prime minister, ministers, president of the parliament and the president of the country flew, but also whether the plane was used for other purposes.
"We are talking about official, mostly foreign trips that were made due to the foreign policy obligations of the Prime Minister and members of the Government, about which the public and the media were informed in advance," the Government said and provided data on the number of flights.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković flew on the Government plane 108 times, the most in 2022 when he flew 32 times. He used the plane the least in 2021 - only 14 times.
Ministers flew on the government plane 84 times in five years, the most in 2022, as did the prime minister, 24 times.
President of the Croatian Parliament Gordan flew 11 times, and in 2021 he did not use the plane even once.
Croatian President Zoran Milanović used the plane 37 times, this year he flew five times.
In addition to transporting officials, the plane was also used for medical flights, of which there were 19 in the past five years.
Puhovski: The macho competition between the president and the prime minister
Political analyst Žarko Puhovski criticized the officials' use of state helicopters in visiting the N1.
"According to our Constitution, there is no reason why the president of the state should be in a hurry." He does not have any executive functions", said Puhovski and added that the prime minister could possibly have a reason to use a helicopter a couple of times a year in some emergency situations.
Milanović sometimes goes to Hvar by helicopter, and his entourage takes cars to Split and then to the ferry, Puhovski points out. "He has a right to that, but I think it's bragging."
On the other hand, says Puhovski, there are situations where state planes are used for family transportation, "which is again suspicious. If you're going to a match, I don't see why you can't go first class on the regular line."
He added that the reason for Milanović's regular use of helicopters could lie precisely in his and Prime Minister Plenković's intolerance.
"I am convinced that Milanović would not have taken a third of the helicopter ride if he did not believe that Plenković was really afraid of helicopters." Well, they want to show their macho advantage, that's the most important thing for them," concluded Puhovski.
