Finance Minister Ivan Suker on Thursday submitted to the government a report on the execution of the state budget in the first six months of this year, reiterating that Croatia did not need the International Monetary Fund.
Regarding proposals that parliament adopt conclusions freezing the amendment of some laws, Suker said the IMF would ask for those amendments.
"All those who are against reforms will continue to be against reforms. Therefore, let's not say that parliament should adopt some conclusions that would freeze the present state of affairs for the next several years. We know that if we signed an arrangement with the IMF, one of the demands would be to change legislation whose freezing is being requested. What would those proposing this get from it?"
Suker warned that the IMF might ask for "a specific change regarding the monetary policy," saying that "some are irresponsibly raising those issues and creating a climate of chaos in Croatia, although we are meeting all our budgetary commitments in a timely fashion".
Suker said the report on the execution of the state budget "sends out warning signals as well," which he added called for increasing revenues and attracting domestic and foreign investments.
He reiterated what the Finance Ministry said yesterday, that budget revenues in the first eight months of the year were HRK 70.8 billion and expenditures HRK 79.4 billion, making the deficit HRK 8.6 billion.
Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor is against the IMF's arrival too, saying the criticisms were proof of impatience due to the coming election year.
"We are approaching election year and elections will be held at the end of 2011. Some are impatient and can't wait, but we are patient and will keep on working patiently," she said.
The government introduced into parliament a bill of amendments to the law on courts, the final bill on the Judicial Appointment Council, and the final bill of amendments to the law on the State Prosecutor's Office.
The bills are expected to make judges and prosecutors more independent, increase the transparency of criteria for the promotion of judges, strengthen the role and position of the Judicial Appointment Council, and introduce a new approach to the training of judges, said Justice Minister Drazen Bosnjakovic.
