Croatian MEP Leaves Party Amid Ethics Probe

Croatian Member of the European Parliament Romana Jerković resigned from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Thursday, preempting a scheduled disciplinary hearing. The party had initiated proceedings to consider her exclusion following reports that personal acquaintances attended a taxpayer-funded European Parliament event in Strasbourg.

Investigations revealed that individuals without medical qualifications, including an art historian and an actor, were registered as medical professionals for a health policy event in December 2024. The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group, which covered travel and meal expenses for these attendees, stated that financial rules were technically respected, attributing the misidentification to administrative errors.

Party Upholds Accountability Standard

SDP Secretary-General Jure Zubčić emphasized the need for Despite the S&D's internal clearance, the SDP leadership maintained that the incident required a higher standard of political and moral accountability. SDP Secretary-General Jure Zubčić emphasized the need for a new standard in Croatian politics, stating that accountability extends beyond legal misdemeanors to include political and moral responsibility.

Jerković asserted in a press release that she

Ms. Jerković asserted in a press release that she was not leaving due to any wrongdoing.

She stated that she invited citizens to Parliament as permitted, believing their experience contributed to health policies, and that all rules were followed, with competent institutions confirming no irregularities. Scrutiny Over Parliamentary Funds The resignation highlights ongoing tensions regarding the oversight of parliamentary travel funds and the potential for misuse of institutional resources.

The incident has intensified pressure on political organizations to enforce stricter ethical conduct standards for representatives operating within European institutions.