Damir Polančec (born 25 June 1967) is a Croatian politician who served as Minister of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship from 2008 to 2009, and as Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia from 2005 to 2009, in the cabinets of two prime ministers, Ivo Sanader and Jadranka Kosor.

Damir Polančec
Minister of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship
In office
12 January 2008 – 30 October 2009
Prime MinisterIvo Sanader
Jadranka Kosor
Preceded byBranko Vukelić
Succeeded byĐuro Popijač
Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia
In office
17 February 2005 – 30 October 2009
Prime MinisterIvo Sanader
Jadranka Kosor
Preceded byAndrija Hebrang
Succeeded byIvan Šuker
Personal details
Born (1967-06-25) 25 June 1967 (age 57)
Koprivnica, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Political partyCroatian Democratic Union
Alma materUniversity of Zagreb
(Faculty of Agronomy)
OccupationPolitician

On 30 October 2009, Polančec resigned citing a need to avoid damaging the Government and the party due to accusations leveled at him for his involvement in the mismanagement of Podravka.[1]

On 30 March 2010, Polančec was apprehended by the police and questioned by USKOK, regarding his involvement in certain financial transactions between Podravka, MOL Group and OTP Bank. The County Court in Zagreb authorized a longer detention for Polančec and also blocked his estates, at the request of USKOK.[2]

On 15 October 2010, Polančec was sentenced to 15 months in prison for a separate instance of abuse of power, where he approved a fictional expense to a Vukovar-based attorney in return for his clients dropping lawsuits against the government.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ "Polančec dao ostavku". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 30 October 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  2. ^ "Polančecu blokirana imovina radi osiguranja naknade moguće štete". Večernji list (in Croatian). 8 April 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  3. ^ "Former Croatian PM arrested in Austria". Financial Times. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  4. ^ "4 steps to taking down the HDZ". Nacional. No. 775. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2017.