Page 17 - SE Outlook Regions 2023

corruption will remain.

Moreover, Bulgaria could be pushed back in the Russian orbit and
become again completely dependent on imports of Russian natural gas
and oil.

On the other hand, Gerb and the DPS would seek to at least appear
pro-Western so that the country starts receiving EU funds under the
recovery and resilience plan, therefore some reforms could be
expected. However, they might not include the most important ones –
those to the judiciary that would make the chief prosecutor accountable
and replaceable.

1.4 Politics - Croatia

Croatia had a very positive start to 2023, as the country became a
member of the eurozone as of January was also accepted in the
Schengen border-free area. Although it joined the EU six years after
Bulgaria and Romania, Croatia managed to quickly advance and enter
the eurozone and Schengen before the other two countries.

This will bring benefits to Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s ruling
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and will most likely neutralise several
corruption scandals involving HDZ members, including ministers who
were either dismissed or resigned in 2022.

The HDZ was involved in corruption scandals in 2022 that could cause
reputational damage to the party, but since it has a comfortable majority
in parliament, Plenkovic’s government is expected to govern the
country for a full term.

The HDZ won the general election in 2020, gaining 66 out of 151 seats
in parliament. The HDZ received the support of the national minority
parties, which elect eight MPs, as well as the People's Party —
Reformists and the Croatian People's Party — Liberal Democrats
(HNS) who won one seat each in the new parliament.

Relations between Plenkovic and President Zoran Milanovic remained
complicated through 2022. Milanovic is from the main opposition party,
the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the long-term rival of the HDZ. He
has sparked several international political scandals with controversial
statements regarding the Russian war in Ukraine and is blocking
attempts by Plenkovic’s government to train Ukrainian troops as part of
an EU initiative.

17 SE Outlook 2023 www.intellinews.com