Croatia's Deputy Prime Minister, Josip Dabro, has resigned from his position following the emergence of a controversial video in which he is seen firing a gun from the passenger seat of a moving car. The footage, which shows Dabro laughing, singing to loud music, and shooting through an open window, has drawn significant criticism and forced his hand in stepping down.
Dabro, a member of the hard-right nationalist party Homeland Movement, has clarified that the video is several years old and that he discharged training bullets during the incident. Despite this defense, the Croatian government deemed his behavior "inappropriate and irresponsible." In his resignation statement shared on Facebook, Dabro, who has also served as Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, indicated he did not wish to be a distraction to the government and acknowledged facing “significant pressure and threats” regarding his department's reform plans.
The video went public earlier in the week, exacerbating tensions within the ruling coalition, which includes Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic's centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). This coalition has faced increasing scrutiny, particularly following the previous dismissal of Health Minister Vili Bros amid a corruption probe.
The political atmosphere in Croatia shifted recently with the re-election of President Zoran Milanovic, who secured nearly three-quarters of the votes against HDZ-backed candidate Dragan Primorac. After the election results, Prime Minister Plenkovic publicly criticized Milanovic, stating he offers nothing of substance while withholding congratulations, underscoring the friction within the government.
As Croatia navigates these political challenges, Dabro's resignation serves as a significant moment reflecting the complexities and pressures within the current administration.
