Zagreb - Justice Minister Damir Habijan told Parliament on Wednesday that despite a high annual case influx, courts remain efficient, while the opposition questioned whether an MP's remark about "one missing document" implied political bargaining or blackmail.
Speaking about the reports on the Supreme Court's work for 2022, 2023 and 2024, Habijan responded that the opposition's rhetoric about public perception and trust in the judiciary has contributed to growing mistrust and a negative image of the judicial system. "Someday, one of you will be in my position as Minister of Justice. By then, the framework and perception you've created yourselves will be in place, and it will be irreversible. The wheel you've set in motion and the way you portray the judiciary is difficult to change," he said.
Habijan's remarks about the three reports sparked a far sharper reaction from opposition MPs than the reports presented by Acting Supreme Court President Gordana Jalšovečki.
Speaking about judicial efficiency, he recalled the period of Croatia's EU accession, when courts faced over one million unresolved cases annually. By the end of 2025, this had dropped to 400,000, and as of 28 February 2026, there were 385,233 pending cases, the minister said.
"Regarding case duration, I recently noted in Parliament that the average is 126 days, but someone mentioned a case lasting 20 years. Yes, such cases exist, which is unacceptable, and we aim to address this with all stakeholders," he said.
The minister highlighted that the biggest challenge is the large annual inflow of cases, with data for 2025 suggesting 1.258 million new cases, but emphasised that courts have handled 1.263 million cases, demonstrating efficiency. He explained that the majority of incoming cases are minor offences, approximately 120,000, of which 70% involve traffic violations, and suggested reviewing the handling of minor cases to allow judicial officials to focus on more significant disputes.
The minister faced around 30 parliamentary follow-up questions
SDP MP Sanja Radolović asked who had stated at the end of last year that no consensus would be reached in the Justice Committee on candidates for the post of Supreme Court president until the selection of three Constitutional Court judges was addressed, and whether this constituted political bargaining.
Habijan said he was surprised the SDP had raised the issue. "Let's look at the selection of the Supreme Court president and its roots. Zlata Đurđević applied without a call, Ms Artuković was proposed without an opinion being sought. Can you say who did that? Let's talk about that and why we are in this position," he replied in an allusion to President Zoran Milanović.
Kristina Ikić Baniček (SDP) asked about Acting Supreme Court President Gordana Jalšovečki's statement that appointing a Supreme Court president is as important as appointing the Speaker of Parliament or the Prime Minister.
"Have you submitted the documentation requested by USKOK? Since you're already talking about respecting institutions," replied Habijan.
SDP MP Ivana Marković asked whether the "missing paper" comment by MP Dario Zurovec -- who justified his decision to join the parliamentary majority with the need to advance local projects because when in opposition, "one is always told that one paper is missing"-- indicated normalised political bargaining or explicit blackmail.
Habijan rejected the interpretation, noting that the government also invests in projects in areas where the HDZ is not in power.
"In a situation where, for example, a local government leader -- let's call him, for the purposes of this reply, opposition MP Zurovec -- comes to the ministry and requests something with complete documentation, and the official tells him it's not possible because one document is missing; or conversely, if parliamentary majority member Zurovec comes to the ministry without proper documentation and the official does something they are not allowed to do -- do you see in this, Minister, a textbook example of the description under Article 295, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, and what would you, as a lawyer, advise in such a case?," asked SDP MP Arsen Bauk, to which Habijan said that, as a retired lawyer specialised in corporate and commercial law, he could not comment on criminal law cases.
HDZ MPs, including Vesna Bedeković, asked how to reduce the number of cases older than ten years. Habijan emphasised that the key is communication with all judicial stakeholders.
He also highlighted investments in judicial infrastructure in Zagreb, Rijeka, Velika Gorica, and Bjelovar and announced reforms for the state school for judicial officials, aimed at rejuvenating staff as about 50 judges approach retirement. Measures include internships and legislative changes to strengthen the system.