by croatiaweek
November 15, 2024
in
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 following 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 Suppression of Corruption and Organized 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.
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 said.
Prime Minister Plenković quickly removed Beroš after the news and appointed Dr. Irena Hrstić as State Secretary to oversee the Ministry’s operations temporarily.
Dr. Hrstić will serve in this capacity until a new minister assumes office.