Božidar Kalmeta
Encyclopedia
Božidar Kalmeta (born in Zadar
, January 15, 1958) is a Croatia
n politician, currently serving as Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure in the Croatian Government (from 2003–2008 the ministry was called Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development).
's Faculty of Agronomy
.
From 1982 to 1993 he worked in his hometown Zadar
as a manager at the Maraska distilling company (which produces the world famous Maraschino
liqueur
).
(HDZ) and in 1993 his full-time political career started after he was elected to the Zadar City Council. In 1994 he became Zadar's deputy mayor, and from 1994 to 2003 he served as mayor of the city.
From 1995 to 2003 he was also a member of the Croatian Parliament, serving as one of representatives from Zadar County
. At the 7th HDZ Convention he was elected party's Vice-President, beating Ivić Pašalić
, and is currently a member of the party's presidency.
After HDZ won the Croatian parliamentary elections of 2003
, Kalmeta was appointed to the newly created post of Minister of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development (which was created by merging three separate ministries) under Prime Minister Ivo Sanader
. One of the chief accomplishments credited to his ministry was the completion of the A1 Highway
linking the country's two largest cities, Zagreb
and Split
. In the next elections of 2007
HDZ won again and Kalmeta kept his post under Ivo Sanader's second term in office
.
In June 2007, Kalmeta's long time official driver, one Danijel Miočić from Zadar, was indicted for racketeering. He and three others were arrested when they took EUR
100,000 worth of bribe from a Cetingrad
businessman, and the money was meant to secure work for the said person's company in public tenders run by Kalmeta's Ministry. Kalmeta stated that he had no knowledge of these acts, nor how his driver could have had any sway on the tenders. In November 2007, Miočić and six others were convicted in court. They appealed the conviction, but in October 2008/March 2009 the County court in Karlovac affirmed the conviction.
In February 2009, Kalmeta fired Davorin Kobak, the general manager of Croatian Railways
, the national railway operator overseen by Kalmeta's Ministry, allegedly after a police wiretap operation uncovered a conspiracy to embezzle three million euros. In June, USKOK
arrested Kobak and two others and charged them with embezzlement. In July and August, after the 2009 Rudine train derailment
, Kalmeta intervened to replace several managers, and soon after, HŽ managers Ivan Medak, Drago Rogulj, Drago Ivanković were arrested for their role in causing the fatal Rudine accident, with several others.
In November 2009, Kalmeta's long-time associate the State Secretary Zdravko Livaković unexpectedly resigned and after that the Government fired much of the management of the public company Hrvatske autoceste, the largest recipient of Kalmeta's Ministry budget money. Soon afterwards, three former managers of Hrvatske autoceste, Jurica Prskalo, Mario Lovrinčević and Goran Legac, were arrested for embezzling over 21 million kuna on a public tender, together with a chief engineer Željko Kandžija and owner of a private construction company Slaven Žužul.
Kalmeta has consistently claimed he never knew about those affairs and has refused to take any kind of responsibility. President Stjepan Mesić
was one of many who suggested Kalmeta needs to resign. After another railway accident on November 21 near Rijeka, the railway workers union sent an open letter of complaint to the minister.
On December 11, 2009, Kalmeta underwent an interpellation
and survived a vote of no confidence.
In December 2010, Kalmeta dismissed the last remaining member of the Board of Directors of Hrvatske autoceste, Josip Sapunar, after he was indicted for participating in a large-scale embezzlement scheme. The latter subsequently testified in USKOK
and accused the minister of complicity.
and Italian
and his hobbies include spearfishing
, jogging
and reading.
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
, January 15, 1958) is a Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n politician, currently serving as Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure in the Croatian Government (from 2003–2008 the ministry was called Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development).
Early life
He graduated in 1982 from the University of ZagrebUniversity of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
's Faculty of Agronomy
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
.
From 1982 to 1993 he worked in his hometown Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
as a manager at the Maraska distilling company (which produces the world famous Maraschino
Maraschino
Maraschino .The liqueur's distinctive flavor comes from the Marasca cherries, and the crushed cherry pits lend an almond-like flavor to Maraschino...
liqueur
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
).
Political career
In 1989 he joined the Croatian Democratic UnionCroatian Democratic Union
The Croatian Democratic Union is the main center-right political party in Croatia. It is the biggest and strongest individual Croatian party since independence of Croatia. The Christian democratic HDZ governed Croatia from 1990 to 2000 and, in partial coalition, from 2003...
(HDZ) and in 1993 his full-time political career started after he was elected to the Zadar City Council. In 1994 he became Zadar's deputy mayor, and from 1994 to 2003 he served as mayor of the city.
From 1995 to 2003 he was also a member of the Croatian Parliament, serving as one of representatives from Zadar County
Zadar County
Zadar County is a county in Croatia, it encompasses northern Dalmatia and southeastern Lika. Its center is the city of Zadar.- Population :According to the 2001 census, Zadar County has population of 162,045...
. At the 7th HDZ Convention he was elected party's Vice-President, beating Ivić Pašalić
Ivić Pašalić
Ivić Pašalić is a Croatian right-wing politician.Pašalić was born to a Croatian family in Šuica, Bosnia and Herzegovina . He was a physician in Zagreb before the arrival of democracy in Croatia. In 1990 he joined the Croatian Democratic Union and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the...
, and is currently a member of the party's presidency.
After HDZ won the Croatian parliamentary elections of 2003
Croatian parliamentary election, 2003
-External links:*...
, Kalmeta was appointed to the newly created post of Minister of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development (which was created by merging three separate ministries) under Prime Minister Ivo Sanader
Ivo Sanader
Ivo Sanader |Split]]) is a Croatian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Croatia from 2003 to 2009.Sanader obtained his education in comparative literature in Austria, where he also later worked in the 1980s. He worked as a journalist, in marketing, publishing and also as a private...
. One of the chief accomplishments credited to his ministry was the completion of the A1 Highway
A1 (Croatia)
The A1 motorway is the longest motorway in Croatia spanning . As it connects Zagreb, the nation's capital, to Split, the second largest city in the country and the largest city in Dalmatia, the motorway represents a major north–south transportation corridor in Croatia and a significant part of the...
linking the country's two largest cities, Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
and Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
. In the next elections of 2007
Croatian parliamentary election, 2007
Parliamentary elections to the Croatian Parliament were held on 25 November 2007 in Croatia and on 24 November and 25 November 2007 abroad. The campaign officially started on 3 November...
HDZ won again and Kalmeta kept his post under Ivo Sanader's second term in office
Cabinet of Ivo Sanader II
The second Cabinet of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader was announced on 12 January 2008. It was the 10th cabinet of Croatia, and its term ended on 6 July 2009 when Jadranka Kosor formed the 11th cabinet...
.
In June 2007, Kalmeta's long time official driver, one Danijel Miočić from Zadar, was indicted for racketeering. He and three others were arrested when they took EUR
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
100,000 worth of bribe from a Cetingrad
Cetingrad
Cetingrad is a municipality in Karlovac County, Croatia near Croatia's border with Bosnia. The population of the village itself is 351, while the total municipality population is 2,746...
businessman, and the money was meant to secure work for the said person's company in public tenders run by Kalmeta's Ministry. Kalmeta stated that he had no knowledge of these acts, nor how his driver could have had any sway on the tenders. In November 2007, Miočić and six others were convicted in court. They appealed the conviction, but in October 2008/March 2009 the County court in Karlovac affirmed the conviction.
In February 2009, Kalmeta fired Davorin Kobak, the general manager of Croatian Railways
Croatian Railways
Croatian Railways is the national railway company of Croatia. It was formed after the dissolution of Yugoslavia and Yugoslav Railways.Croatia is a member of the International Union of Railways . The UIC Country Code for Croatia is 78.-Railway network:...
, the national railway operator overseen by Kalmeta's Ministry, allegedly after a police wiretap operation uncovered a conspiracy to embezzle three million euros. In June, USKOK
USKOK
USKOK is a Croatian government institution. It is a State Attorney office specialized in corruption and organized crime.USKOK started work in December 2001...
arrested Kobak and two others and charged them with embezzlement. In July and August, after the 2009 Rudine train derailment
2009 Rudine train derailment
The Rudine derailment was a train derailment that happened on July 24, 2009 at 10:08 GMT near the village of Rudine in southern Croatia, on the Zagreb-Split railway line. The derailment site is located on the slopes of Kozjak at...
, Kalmeta intervened to replace several managers, and soon after, HŽ managers Ivan Medak, Drago Rogulj, Drago Ivanković were arrested for their role in causing the fatal Rudine accident, with several others.
In November 2009, Kalmeta's long-time associate the State Secretary Zdravko Livaković unexpectedly resigned and after that the Government fired much of the management of the public company Hrvatske autoceste, the largest recipient of Kalmeta's Ministry budget money. Soon afterwards, three former managers of Hrvatske autoceste, Jurica Prskalo, Mario Lovrinčević and Goran Legac, were arrested for embezzling over 21 million kuna on a public tender, together with a chief engineer Željko Kandžija and owner of a private construction company Slaven Žužul.
Kalmeta has consistently claimed he never knew about those affairs and has refused to take any kind of responsibility. President Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić is a Croatian politician and former President of Croatia. Before his ten-year presidential term between 2000 and 2010 he held the posts of Speaker of the Croatian Parliament , Prime Minister of Croatia , the last President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Secretary General...
was one of many who suggested Kalmeta needs to resign. After another railway accident on November 21 near Rijeka, the railway workers union sent an open letter of complaint to the minister.
On December 11, 2009, Kalmeta underwent an interpellation
Interpellation (politics)
Interpellation is the formal right of a parliament to submit formal questions to the government. In many parliaments, each individual member of parliament has the right to formally submit questions to a member of government. The respective minister or secretary is then required to respond and to...
and survived a vote of no confidence.
In December 2010, Kalmeta dismissed the last remaining member of the Board of Directors of Hrvatske autoceste, Josip Sapunar, after he was indicted for participating in a large-scale embezzlement scheme. The latter subsequently testified in USKOK
USKOK
USKOK is a Croatian government institution. It is a State Attorney office specialized in corruption and organized crime.USKOK started work in December 2001...
and accused the minister of complicity.
Personal life
Kalmeta is married with three children. He speaks EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
and his hobbies include spearfishing
Spearfishing
Spearfishing is an ancient method of fishing that has been used throughout the world for millennia. Early civilizations were familiar with the custom of spearing fish from rivers and streams using sharpened sticks....
, jogging
Jogging
Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running.-Definition:...
and reading.