Croatia’s Minister of Health dismissed after corruption arrests

Vili Beroš (Photo credit: European Union/Press)

In a significant shakeup in Croatian politics, Vili Beroš, who has served as Croatia’s Minister of Health since 2020, was dismissed from his position on Friday morning following his arrest in an ongoing corruption investigation.

Beroš, a neurosurgeon, was relieved of his ministerial duties by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Friday.

The corruption inquiry was led by the Croatian Office for Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK), a specialised anti-corruption unit.

USKOK confirmed in a statement this morning that several arrests and urgent evidence-gathering actions had been conducted as part of their probe into alleged corruption.

“The investigative actions are carried out in the area of ​​Zagreb and Skradin in relation to several persons, one of whom is a high-ranking government official, who are reasonably suspected of having committed corrupt criminal acts,” the statement read.

“After questioning the suspect, USKOK will make a decision on further action in the case in question, about which it will inform the public in a timely manner,” USKOK concluded.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb said today that it initiated an investigation against eight individuals, including the Minister of Health and the directors of two hospitals in Zagreb, and two companies on suspicion of accepting and giving bribes, abuse of position and authority and money laundering.

“There are allegations that the Minister of Health, in exchange for a received bribe, issued approvals for the purchase of operating microscopes at unfounded increased prices, and provided funds for financing public procurement,” EPPO said in a statement.

Prime Minister Plenković quickly removed Beroš after the news and appointed Dr. Irena Hrstić, the current State Secretary, to oversee the Ministry’s operations temporarily.

– As you are aware, former minister Vili Beroš and two other people were arrested this morning, as part of USKOK’s action, which the Attorney General informed me about. I am not familiar with the details. What is obvious, we are talking about corrupt criminal acts. What I want to say on behalf of the Government is that the bodies responsible for criminal prosecution investigate everything – said PM Plenković at a press conference.

– As Prime Minister, I am personally appalled at the idea of ​​anyone in the health care system using their position for either personal enrichment or favouring someone else. Minister Beroš has earned the trust of me and the citizens to take care of healthcare and to manage resources in a legal way, so that all patients are provided with the best services. Surely neither he nor anyone else received a mandate for abusing the system and committing criminal acts – he added.

Dr. Hrstić will serve in this capacity until a new minister assumes office.

You can read the full statement from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office here.