ZAGREB, 15 Jan (Hina) – The government plans to expand the list of products whose prices will be capped and will continue to take care of the citizens’ standard of living, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar stated on Wednesday during Question Time in Parliament.
“We will expand the list of products with capped prices, and the State Inspectorate and the Competition Agency will play a larger role,” Prime Minister Plenković said in response to an inquiry from independent MP Nino Raspudić.
Plenković recalled the measures the government has taken so far in a bid to curb inflation, such as reducing the VAT rate to 5% for a range of products. “Almost no one notices that anymore,” he said.
Inflation in 2024 was 2.975%, and it is projected to be 2.7% this year, Plenković added, highlighting the growth in GDP, reduction of public debt, credit rating, and the increase in wages and pensions.
Inflation remains a pressing issue in Croatia, with the country experiencing some of the highest rates in the EU over the last three years and currently having the highest inflation in the eurozone, Raspudić said, stating that capping prices for some products was insufficient.
Minister Šušnjar also addressed the plan to expand the list of products with regulated prices in response to an inquiry from Dragana Jeckov (SDSS).
“We continue to take care of preserving the standard of living for citizens. The government plans to expand the list of products with regulated prices and we will try to balance the basket to make it as healthy and affordable as possible for our citizens,” said Šušnjar. He noted that meetings are being held with producers, traders, and distributors to make sure everyone contributes to reducing inflationary pressures.
During Question Time, the verb “congratulate” was mentioned several times by the Prime Minister, but not in the context of the recent presidential elections. Instead, it was related to the Day of the International Recognition of the Republic of Croatia and the Day of Peaceful Reintegration of the Croatian Danube Region, as well as in the context of Croatia’s economic achievements.
“I join the Sabor Speaker in congratulations on the Day of the International Recognition of Croatia. We can congratulate Croatia, which, along with Malta and Cyprus, has the highest GDP growth in the European Union,” Plenković said.
During Question Time the premier and MPs of the ruling majority also traded barbs with the SDP leader and other opposition lawmakers over the outcome of the presidential elections in which the incumbent Zoran Milanović clinched a sweeping victory against Dragan Primorac, supported by the governing majority.
