How much money is the Government allocating for changes to veterans' rights?

The Government has announced changes to veterans' rights worth around €90 million.

Who signed the critical statement?

The statement is signed by Matija Kroflin, Secretary-General of the Independent Union of Science and Higher Education.

What does the union reproach the Ministry of Science and Education for?

The Ministry refused to remove discrimination against lecturers at universities, justifying it with a lack of funds, even though it involves an amount of several tens of thousands of euros per year.

What message does the union send to those employed in education?

The union says that the veteran population is important to the ruling party, while teachers, instructors, professors, and scientists are currently not a priority.

Croatia

Union Lashes Out at Plenković: €90 Million for Veterans

A.G. · Prije 1h | 2 min

The Independent Union of Science and Higher Education has fiercely criticized the Government and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, accusing them of double standards in public spending.

Summary

The Science and Higher Education Union criticizes the Government over €90 million for veterans' rights.
They warn of double standards because there is "no money" for education and science.
The Ministry of Science refused to remove discrimination against lecturers due to a lack of several tens of thousands of euros.
The union demands an urgent correction of the base salary and higher wages in education.

The Independent Union of Science and Higher Education issued a sharp statement on August 7, 2026, criticizing the Government of the Republic of Croatia and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. The trigger was the announcement of changes to veterans' rights worth around €90 million, while at the same time, as the union claims, there is "no money" for demands in education and science.

Union Secretary-General Matija Kroflin accused the Prime Minister of political pragmatism aimed at preserving his own voter base. He reminded that HDZ and government representatives initially rejected the proposal by the Možemo party to increase veterans' rights, only for the Prime Minister to present it a few weeks later in a repackaged form as a government project.

A Message of Double Standards

The union believes this move sends a clear message to public sector employees. "There is money in the state budget, and real wages do not have to fall," the statement reads, adding that stories about the need to cool the economy and limit public spending clearly do not apply equally to everyone.

Particularly highlighted was the contradiction between two ministries. While Minister Medved easily justifies an expenditure of nearly €90 million, which could grow even further, the Ministry of Science and Education refused to remove discrimination against lecturers at universities, citing a lack of funds. "For comparison, this involves an amount of several tens of thousands of euros per year!" the union emphasizes.

"Education Must Become Politically Relevant"

Due to the continuous rise in prices and wages in the rest of the economy, the union insists on an urgent correction of the base salary and an additional increase in wages in education. Kroflin stated that the veteran population is evidently important to HDZ and the Prime Minister, while teachers, instructors, professors, and scientists "apparently, are not at the moment."

"This is a message that those employed in education and science, as well as all unions operating in these systems, must be aware of," Kroflin concluded in the statement.