Andrej Plenković first defeated Zoran Milanović last year. Then Milanović defeated Plenković's candidate Dragan Primorac last winter. And then Plenković defeated, and in some places embarrassed, Milanović's SDP in the local elections.
So now we can both sit down at the table peacefully this Friday and finally hold a session of the Defense Council after three and a half years.
"Better late than never," Milanović says conciliatoryly, reminding us "how many times he called for that meeting." "But that's it, better this way than that."
It's certainly better. The elections are over, the seats are secured, passions have been deflated. So now the president and prime minister can devote themselves to state affairs and national issues.
A rare apparition
It was also one of Zoran Milanović's rare appearances after the presidential elections, a rare statement, comment, or remark from him in front of the media that he once ran after, and after winning the race for a second term, he kept on a tight leash.
He spoke in a conciliatory tone, well-intentioned, meek.
And that's what Andrej Plenković managed to reduce almost all of his opponents to.
Milanović has cocooned himself in Pantovčak, where he will await his retirement and then - according to his own announcement - say goodbye to active politics. He was the leader of the opposition, the prime minister's main opponent, a safeguard against the HDZ's usurpation of institutions, a protector against the HDZ's occupation of the state. Now he has become Plenković's partner.
Penava in the Government
Ivan Penava, Plenković's former opponent at the head of the Homeland Movement, will soon enter the government, which will bring Plenković another potential rival to his right - after the rebellious Ivan Anušić. He has, in one way or another, tamed the radical right, both in the HDZ and in the Homeland Movement.
Siniša Hajdaš Dončić boasted this winter that he would be a prime ministerial candidate, and now he has more to do with saving his seat in the party after key failures and setbacks in the local elections than with criticizing Plenković and the HDZ.
The Homeland Movement was split and emasculated, the right wing was shattered and scattered, Most was neutralized, Možemo! was limited, and the SDP was pushed to the northern geographical margins in the local elections.
The long arm of Turudić
Ivan Turudić took over the reins of the State Attorney's Office and ensured Plenković a peaceful night's sleep, not only in terms of prosecuting HDZ's corrupt thugs, but also in the context of prosecuting corruption in the opposition ranks. The long arm of justice will reach all of HDZ's threats.
Just as that same long arm of Ivan Turudić will keep European prosecutors at a safe distance.
And of course, the HDZ is bureaucratized and operated without any leadership ambitions, let alone factions, while the Croatian Parliament has been reduced to the level of a political backdrop.
And Plenković does not expect any elections in the next three years.
Silenced and drowned
Croatia has been silenced, except for the one that has been strangled, the velvet glove of Plenković's dominance has tightened its grip around the necks of Croatian politics, institutions, the opposition, and a good part of the public.
And those who threw all their cards in their resistance to HDZ and Plenković at President Milanović, the alleged leader of the opposition, must now watch as he acts conciliatoryly and works in partnership with Plenković, now that both have secured their mandates.
Last year's super election year, which ends with this year's local elections, was supposed to pave the way for major changes, put pressure on the current government, and corner Plenković.
At this point, it seems that wasn't enough.
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