Another Sad Comparison

Assassination of Anna Lindh was another opportunity for me to remember the utter blandness and lack of charisma of her Croatian colleague Tonino Picula. That same lack of charisma was the reason for Picula to stay out of media spotlight, but also to evade the major scandals that were plaguing other departments of Croatian government.

The only time Picula created something resembling deep suspicions or displeasure in Croatian society happened at the very beginning of his mandate in 2000. Soon after becoming Croatian foreign minister he moved into new apartment in Zagreb. That created major inconvenience for his neighbours who later complained to media about annoying and constant presence of uniformed and plainclothes police.