Oleg Butković

Oleg Butković
Official portrait, 2016
Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 July 2022
Prime MinisterAndrej Plenković
Preceded byZdravko Marić
Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 January 2016
Prime MinisterTihomir Orešković
Andrej Plenković
Preceded bySiniša Hajdaš Dončić
Mayor of Novi Vinodolski
In office
2005–2016
Preceded byMilivoj Vidmar
Succeeded byVelimir Piškulić
Personal details
Born (1979-05-04) 4 May 1979
Rijeka, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia (modern Croatia)
PartyCroatian Democratic Union
Spouse
Barbara Butković
​
(m. 2006)​
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Rijeka

Oleg Butković (born 4 May 1979) is a Croatian politician serving as Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure since 2016. He assumed the position in the cabinet of Tihomir Orešković and continued to hold the position in the first, second and third cabinet of Andrej Plenković.[1][2] He is also serving as one of the deputy prime ministers, assuming office following Zdravko Marić's 2022 resignation.

Early life and career

Butković was born in Rijeka in the Primorje region to mother Emilija and father Srećko.[3] After finishing school in 1998, he graduated from the Faculty of Maritime Studies at the University of Rijeka in 2002.[4]

He was elected mayor of Novi Vinodolski in 2005, a position he would hold until 2016 when he became the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure in the cabinet of Tihomir Orešković, and later Andrej Plenković. While mayor, he began climbing the ranks in the Croatian Democratic Union, first becoming president of the party's Novi Vinodolski city council, then in 2012 as member of the Central committee, and in 2020 vice-president.[4][5]

Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure

Roadways

In 2018, two years after taking the office, Hrvatske Ceste and CRBC signed a €276 million contract to build the Pelješac bridge which would connect Dubrovnik with the rest of the country.[6] The construction lasted for four years and the total cost ended up being €471 million, including new roads and the Ston bypass.[7] The European Comission allocated €375 million for the bridge’s construction. During the opening ceremony, Butković said: “Because it is not only a bridge in terms of infrastructure, it will shorten the travel time, but also bring benefits in the economy and in every other sense.”[8] In 2021, works started on the new €200 million Učka Tunnel on the A8 motorway, so that traffic does not have to share just one tunnel which was built in 1981. The new tunnel was opened in September 2024,[9][10] and the old tunnel completed renovation in September 2025.[11] It was a part of broader construction of the Istrian Y, a project that would better connect Istria to the rest of the country with a motorway.[12]

Under Butković, Croatian Motorways added the last 11 km (6.8 mi) to the A11 motorway in 2024, connecting Sisak with Zagreb after 18 years of construction. It’s full length is 47 km (29 mi), providing a shorter journey between the two cities.[13] In October 2025, the final 5 km (3.1 mi) of the A5 motorway were opened, which started construction in 2007, connecting Hungary with Bosnia and Herzegovina in its 88 km (55 mi) length. It is a part of the Pan-European Corridor Vc.[14][15]

Railways

Croatia increased it’s investment in railway infrastructure under Butković, mostly thanks to ECB loans and EU funds.[16] In 2016, HŽ Infrastruktura signed a contract to upgrade the tracks from Dugo Selo to Križevci, and in 2020 from Križevci to the border with Hungary.[17] The whole project is worth half a billion euros and includes the construction of a new second track and the reconstruction of the existing one, as well as replacing the overhead wires and construction of new overpasses and underpasses, effectively eliminating all train crossings. The maximum speed will be raised to 160 km/h (99 mph).[18][19] Both projects missed their deadlines, and are scheduled to be completed in mid-2026.[20]

Other investments in railway infrastructure include replacing the tracks and sleepers from Knin to Zadar and from Kloštar Podravski via Varaždin to Čakovec.[21][22] New planned routes include railway connections to Zagreb,[23] Split[24] and Zadar airports,[21] as well as a new railway track towards Rijeka.[25]

Air

Although plans for reconstruction of the Split Airport passenger terminal have begun during the Milanović government in 2015,[26] the official contract was signed in December 2016 with Butković's approval.[27] Construction was completed and the terminal was opened in 2019,[28] and in 2024 works began on a new €17 million passenger terminal which will be connected with a port to automatically transport people to the many islands on the coast.[29] Butković was also present during the opening of the new Zagreb Airport passenger terminal in 2017;[30] however, it was built by the previous administration.[31]

Mail services

During Butković’s reign, the Croatian Post saw the largest cycle of investment in its history worth €160 million.[32] The construction of a new €46.5 million package sorting center in Velika Gorica began in May 2017, and opened in September 2019.[33] The total area of the facility is 32,000 square metres (38,000 sq yd), with a processing capacity of 15,000 packets an hour.[34] The company’s headquarters were relocated next to the facility soon after.[35] In March 2022, a new package sorting center worth €8 million was opened in the Bakar-Kukuljanovo industrial zone near the City of Rijeka. It serves Istria, Primorje and Gorski Kotar. The two centers aim to make the processing of mail more efficient and support the company’s growing parcel delivery service.[36]

Controversies

Jadrolinija incident

On 12 August 2024, three Jadrolinija crewmembers were left died and one severely injured after a ship’s ramp collapsed on them in the port of Mali Lošinj.[37] The cause of the fall of the multi-tonne ramp was when the steel cable that lifts it broke, sending it towards the four servicemen standing below.[38] Neither did the chairperson of Jadrolinija David Sopta nor Butković resign, who publicly avoided commenting the accident. On 12 September, he came before the press to admit his wrongdoing. He said that he “made a human and a political mistake” and that he should have visited the place of accident sooner. He said he thought about resigning, but concluded against it to “see what happened and what will be concluded”.[39] He was even criticized among members inside his own party, the HDZ, for mismanaging the crisis.[40] Egon Matešić, the company's executive director, was fired in September,[41] and David Sopta in February 2025 after an investigation found him guilty; Butković was never sanctioned for the accident.[42]

Conflict of interest

In July 2019, Josipa Rimac (now Plesić) asked Butković to get a young engineer and her friend Ante Grgić hired at the IGH Institute, a civil engineering and research firm. Butković responded with "I've sorted it out, they'll call him in two or three days" and "Ante starts working on 1st October in Rijeka in supervision [department]."[43][44] When the text messaged first appeared in public in April 2024, Butković responded with “How could I influence employment in a private company?” and that he doesn’t remember the messages.[45] Despite that, in September 2025, he was fined €3,000 by the Committee for Determining Conflict of Interest for mediating the employment.[43]

Personal life

Oleg Butković married his wife Barbara in 2006, with whom he has two sons.[46] He also has a brother.[5] He owns a house in Novi Vinodolski.[47]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Croatian PM announces names of all cabinet ministers". Croatia Week. 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Members of the Government". Government of the Republic of Croatia (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. ^ "'Lopovi su nas pratili, točno su znali po što su došli, sef nije na vidljivom mjestu...'". net.hr (in Croatian). 2018-08-08. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
  4. ^ a b "Oleg Butković". Government of the Republic of Croatia (in Croatian). Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b Salvia, Vedran (2024-04-11). ""Moje intelektualne sposobnosti su srednje razine". Ovo je Oleg Butković". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-02-25.
  6. ^ "POTPISAN UGOVOR ZA PELJEŠKI MOST Plenković: Ovo je početak strateškog partnerstva Hrvatske i Kine". direktno.hr (in Croatian). 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  7. ^ "Objavljena konačna cijena koliko je koštao Pelješki most i pristupne ceste - JUGinfo.hr" (in Croatian). 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  8. ^ "Pelješki most je otvoren! Rimčeva Nevera i Niko Pulić prvi pojurili obasjani vatrometom". www.vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  9. ^ Vranješ, Mirta (2024-09-13). "Otvorena nova cijev tunela kroz Učku: 'Dugo ćemo vraćati kredit, ali tunelarina neće rasti'". Telegram (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  10. ^ "Izgrađena druga cijev tunela Učka - jedan od najvažnijih infrastrukturnih objekata u Hrvatskoj". mmpi.gov.hr. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  11. ^ Bumbak, Luka. "Završena je sanacija 40 godina stare cijevi tunela Učka: Evo što se sve saniralo, a i što se nalazi iza skrivenih vrata". Bauštela.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  12. ^ "Radi se punom parom na Istarskom ipsilonu: Kada sve završi pretvara se u istarski X". www.vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  13. ^ "Zagreb i Sisak spojeni autocestom nakon 18 godina čekanja". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  14. ^ "FOTO/VIDEO Otvorena posljednja dionica autoceste A5 do mađarske granice! Plenkovića pitali gdje je Orban". Dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  15. ^ Šoda, Ana. "Otvorena nova dionica autoceste A5: Projekt vrijedan više od 200 milijuna kuna". Bauštela.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  16. ^ "Butković: Ulaganja u željezničku infrastrukturu veća od 1.5 milijardi eura". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  17. ^ Šantek, Nina. "Novi mostovi i vijadukti: Kasne radovi na pruzi prema državnoj granici, kad će kraj?". Bauštela.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  18. ^ "Potpisan ugovor za radove od Križevaca do mađarske granice". HŽ Infrastruktura (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  19. ^ Dokonal, Tihomir (2025-02-27). "Na četiri dana zatvara se jedan od najprometnijih željezničkih kolodvora". Točka Na I (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  20. ^ "Kasni gradnja brze ceste i pruge u Koprivničko-križevačkoj županiji". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  21. ^ a b "Nisu samo Bibinje: Obnova željezničke pruge Knin - Zadar do listopada 2028. godine". www.vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  22. ^ Bumbak, Luka. "Kreće povijesna obnova pruge i brze ceste na sjeveru Hrvatske, ulog od 500 milijuna eura". Bauštela.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  23. ^ "Željeznicom od aerodroma do središta Zagreba". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  24. ^ "Konačno riješen veliki spor između Splita i Kaštela? Željeznica do aerodroma ići će uz D8, Ivanović poručio: "HŽ još nije sve iskomunicirao, a poslali smo im prije dvije godine..."". Dalmacija Danas (in Croatian). 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  25. ^ "Put od Rijeke do Zagreba skratit će se za 56 km, na novoj trasi pruge gradit će se i pet novih kolodvora" (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  26. ^ "Hajdaš Dončić: u proljeće 2016. gradnja novog terminala splitske zračne luke". IUS-INFO (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  27. ^ Bogdan, Anđela (2017). "Novi putnički terminal u Zračnoj luci Split" (PDF). casopis-gradjevinar.hr. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  28. ^ "Otvoren rekonstruirani i obnovljeni terminal Zračne luke Split vrijedan 450 milijuna kuna". mmpi.gov.hr. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  29. ^ "Splitska luka će dobiti modernu zgradu međunarodnog putničkog terminala". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  30. ^ Boljfetić, Nikol (2017-03-21). "Svečano otvorena zračna luka 'Franjo Tuđman': 'Ovo su nova vrata Hrvatske'". Zagreb.info (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  31. ^ "Ministar Siniša Hajdaš Dončić u pratnji predsjednika Vlade Zorana Milanovića u obilasku gradilišta novog putničkog terminala Međunarodne zračne luke Zagreb". mmpi.gov.hr. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  32. ^ Soldić, Miro (2023-06-05). "Čulo: Hrvatska pošta već isprobala robote, u fokusu nam je zeleno poslovanje". Bloomberg Adria (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  33. ^ "HRVATSKA POŠTA PREDSTAVILA NAJVEĆU INVESTICIJU U SVOJOJ POVIJESTI Pogledajte kako izgleda novi sortirni centar vrijedan 350 milijuna kuna". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  34. ^ "Sortirnica Hrvatske pošte dnevno primi do 100 tisuća paketa". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  35. ^ "Sjedište Hrvatske pošte više nije u Zagrebu". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  36. ^ R.Z (2022-03-11). "KUKULJANOVO Pogledajte kako izgleda nova sortirnica HP-a, unaprijedit će kvalitetu dostave". Riportal (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  37. ^ "Three dead in Croatian ferry accident; President calls for immediate clarification of the cause". N1. 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  38. ^ "Šef Jadrolinije otkrio detalje o padu rampe: 'Puknula je sajla, provest ćemo istragu i vještačenja'". www.vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  39. ^ "Butković: Ne želim da se išta prikriva, napravio sam ljudsku i političku pogrešku". Istra24 (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  40. ^ Međugorac, Iva (2024-08-16). "U HDZ-u ključa zbog Butkovića: Ovo je njegova najveća greška i prva velika afera u karijeri". Dnevno.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  41. ^ "Jadrolinija: Smijenjen tehnički direktor, hoće li Uprava na čelu sa Soptom 'preživjeti'?". narod.hr (in Croatian). 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  42. ^ Menđušić, Silvana (2025-02-11). "Premijerov miljenik Sopta smijenjen s mjesta direktora Jadrolinije". Telegram (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  43. ^ a b "Oleg Butković uhljebio prijatelja Josipe Rimac, otkrile ih poruke. Mora platiti 3000€". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  44. ^ "Butković dobio paprenu kaznu zbog poruka otkrivenih kod Josipe Pleslić: Kažnjen i Milanović". Dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  45. ^ Pavlica, Valentina (2024-04-05). "Butković o prepisci s Josipom Rimac: 'Ja se tih poruka ne sjećam. Kako bih mogao utjecati na zapošljavanje u privatnoj tvrtki?'". Telegram (in Croatian). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  46. ^ "Gloria - Samozatajna ministrova supruga šarmirala damskim točkicama u romantičnom izlasku". www.gloria.hr (in Croatian). 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
  47. ^ "Ministar Butković postao bogatiji za pola milijuna eura, pogledajte što je dodao u imovinsku karticu". Dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.