Croatia is acting shamefully seven days prior to joining the European Union (EU) and has problems with its credibility, opposition MPs said on Wednesday after hearing the news that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had cancelled her visit to Zagreb to celebrate Croatia's entry to the EU due to the 'Perkovic case'.
Opposition MPs demanded that a government representative come to parliament and explain the situation, and if it was true that Merkel was not coming than the government should send her its apologies.
There were differences in opinion among the opposition about whether a bill on judicial cooperation with the EU in criminal matters, dubbed 'lex Perkovic', should be withdrawn from parliamentary procedure.
If we wish to act in a European manner then not one crime must be protected in the Sabor, particularly not those committed by the former secret police (UDBA), one Opposition MP said.
Independent MP and former PM Jadranka Kosor said that it was terribly uncomfortable and shameful that Chancellor Merkel had cancelled her arrival. Will anyone else do the same, Kosor questioned.
She added that there was no need to withdraw the bill but to strike out the limitation on extraditions.
