ZAGREB, 28.07.2017. – Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA) welcomes journalist Drago Hedl’s decision to publish proof of attempt of politician Franjo Lucić to bribe him. Franjo Lucić offered bribe to our colleague to give up publishing the story about Lucić’s companies and his suspicious transactions.
Drago Hedl is journalistic veteran, many times awarded internationally and nationally, including life achievement CJA award „Otokar Keršovani“.
Franjo Lucić was at the moment of his attempt to bribe Drago Hedl president of HDZ County Committee at Požega-Slavonia County and vice president of the Parliament Committee for European Affairs.
CJA expects the Prime Minister and HDZ president Andrej Plenković, president of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Androković and all Parliament Committees to publicly condemn Franjo Lucić’s behavior.
CJA calls once again all colleagues to withstand all kinds of pressure and attempts aimed to stop them from doing their duty according basic ethical and professional principles.
We also call for journalists to report to competent authorities every attempt that should effect their professional independency and to publish proofs about it. By doing so they will not only protect their personal integrity but help developing democratic society.
Saša Leković, CJA president for the CJA Executive Board