Radojčić: Rich investors want to intimidate environmentalists

“This analysis shows that the repression is systematic, and it also shows an extremely low share of funds intended for environmental protection organizations. Allocations during the last decade ranged between 0.5 and 1 percent of the total public funds allocated to civil society,” she noted.

Radojčić asserted that the reason for this was their exposure of various forms of favoring private interests and corruption in spatial planning.

“Environmental defenders are intimidated and often sued by rich investors and state institutions such as Croatian Forests. SLAPP lawsuits are used to criminalize the actions of environmental defenders, to intimidate critical voices, and they also use a method of smearing,” she stated.

Mrak Taritaš called Vučemilović

GLAS representative Anka Mrak Traitaš called the president of the Parliamentary Committee for Family, Youth and Sports Vesna Vučemilović (independent) for violating the rules of procedure because she organized the round table on surrogate motherhood without a prior decision of the board members.

“I did not receive an answer to my express request that, as members of the committee, when we decided on this and who will be the participants of the round table, I did not receive an answer,” said Mrak Taritaš, adding that according to the rules of procedure, parliamentary committees cannot even organize round tables, but thematic sessions.

“Vesna Vučemilović holds the majority for the HDZ and it costs money. And that is why the Committee for Rules of Procedure is silent while the Committee for Family, Youth and Sports is used as a personal platform of the president of that committee,” she asserted.

The representative of GLAS also pointed out that the most vocal opponents of surrogate motherhood are the same ones who are advocating for the ban or serious restriction of the right to abortion. “In both cases, the common denominator is the same. Someone else will decide when, for whom and under what conditions the woman will work,” said Mrak Taritaš.