Croatian Prime Minister Overcomes No-Confidence Vote Following Corruption Scandal

Andrej Plenkovic's government survives parliamentary challenge as public anger grows over corruption and healthcare mismanagement.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, with 76 lawmakers opposing the motion and 64 supporting it.
The vote was prompted by the arrest of former Health Minister Vili Beros, accused of involvement in a €600,000 graft scheme involving overpriced surgical microscopes.
The Social Democratic Party, Croatia's main opposition, accused Plenkovic of political responsibility for widespread corruption within his administration.
Plenkovic, in power since 2016 and now in his third term, rejected the allegations as defamatory and emphasized his government's support for anti-corruption investigations.
Public frustration over systemic corruption and the struggling public healthcare system remains high, with 96% of Croatians perceiving corruption as endemic, according to an EU survey.