Davorko Vidović confirmed his appointment as special advisor to the Minister of Finance, emphasizing that it is a professional, not political, role and that he does not intend to change his beliefs.
Davorko Vidović, former SDP Minister of Labour and ex-leader of the Social Democrats party, confirmed on Saturday that he has been appointed as a special advisor to Finance Minister Tomislav Ćorić. In an interview with Hina, he revealed that the initiative for this unusual move came from the top of the government.
"The engagement in the Ministry of Finance was proposed to me by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković," Vidović stated, adding that the offer surprised him but he accepted it as recognition of his long-standing professional experience in pension and social policy.
The Ministry of Finance announced that Vidović will receive a monthly gross fee of €1,417.23 for his advisory work in the field of public finances. He describes his new role as "advisory, consultative, and professional," with his work focusing on public finances, pensions, and the position of pensioners.
Although he does not wish to publicly disclose the specific advice he will give to Minister Ćorić, Vidović highlighted two key goals: preserving fiscal stability and protecting citizens' living standards. "Salaries and pensions should not be the main victims of cuts in public spending," he said.
He drew particular attention to the difficult situation of the oldest citizens. "We have a truly vulnerable group, and that is pensioners. Pensions are so low that a large number of people are very close to or below the poverty line," Vidović warned. He also recalled the results of his ministerial mandate, noting that pensions were then increased by 33 percent in real terms and 44 percent nominally.
Vidović, who is 70 years old, claims that "competitive politics" no longer interests him. "I saw this as professional and expert recognition of my expertise and experience," he said, citing his involvement in pension reform, labour legislation reform, and eight years of work at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce on labour policy and employment.
Aware that the engagement of a former SDP minister in a government led by the HDZ is a "rarity" in Croatian politics, Vidović rejects claims that he has politically "sold out." "If I wanted to sell myself, I would have done so in the '90s when it was very fashionable," he said.
As an example that party affiliation need not be an obstacle to professional cooperation, he cited Vera Babić, a member and one of the founders of the HDZ, who served as his deputy while he was Minister of Labour.
At the same time, Vidović expressed sharp criticism of his former party. "There are no more social democratic values or ideas there. It has turned into some kind of opposition for the sake of opposition," he concluded. Despite his new role, he claims he has remained "ideologically stable" and holds the same values as before.
