Croatia's Deputy PM Resigns Amid Controversial Gun Video Incident

Josip Dabro, Croatia's deputy prime minister, has resigned following the emergence of a video depicting him shooting from a moving car. The incident highlights growing tensions within Croatia's coalition government.

Croatia's deputy prime minister, Josip Dabro, has resigned following the release of a video that captured him shooting a pistol from a moving car. In the footage, which is reportedly several years old, Dabro is seen enjoying a ride as he chats, laughs, and sings along to loud music before taking aim and firing into the night through an open window.

Dabro, a member of the hard-right nationalist Homeland Movement, stated that he was using training bullets during the incident. Nevertheless, the government deemed his actions "inappropriate and irresponsible," marking yet another controversy for Croatia's coalition government that was formed in May 2024.

In his resignation announcement shared on Facebook, Dabro, who also held the position of minister for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, expressed that he did not wish to divert attention from the government's work. He also claimed he was facing "significant pressure and threats" in relation to proposed reforms in his department.

The footage surfaced earlier this week and has created waves within political circles. Dabro's party is currently in coalition with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic's center-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party. Last year, Health Minister Vili Bros was dismissed ahead of an investigation into corruption, indicating ongoing political unrest in the Croatian government.

On a parallel note, Zoran Milanovic's re-election as president for a second term has fueled further tensions, with Plenkovic publicly criticizing him following the election. It seems Croatia's political landscape is rife with turmoil, particularly as presidents typically occupy largely ceremonial roles in the country.