The opposition believes that state incentives are distributed without any supervision and mostly to those regions where parties supporting the ruling coalition are in power.
Josip Leko of the Social Democrats said the government lacked a strategy of economic development and therefore could not have a strategy of state incentives. He proposed that the debate on the bill, which the government suggested should be adopted under urgent procedure, be declared the first reading. He also suggested drawing up measures strengthening the economy and raising the competitiveness of the national economy.
The bill was also opposed by the Peasant Party (HSS) and the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS).
Damir Kajin of the IDS proposed that the head of the Agency for the Protection of Market Competition, which under the bill would grant consent for any bill on state incentives, be appointed by the opposition.
Tonci Tadic of the Party of Rights (HSP) said his party would not support the bill because it gave the Agency excessive powers and ignored the jurisdiction of parliament with regard to state incentives.
Zdravko Sockovic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said the bill would help justify the purpose of state incentives - to help the national economy, especially sectors depending on such incentives.