RITAM POSLA Petar Lovrić

Petar Lovrić has spent years within Croatia's main employers' association, the HUP, advocating for small and medium businesses. Yet, what he saw as a growing conflict of interest — with public enterprises joining HUP and then raising prices or imposing fees on the very businesses the association was meant to protect — eventually led him to a radical decision. He founded a new, independent association specifically for entrepreneurs and employers, built on a volunteer model and a mandate to give a voice to those he felt were being ignored. Lovrić's move is more than just a split; it's a stark commentary on the challenges of effective advocacy when "big" and "small" interests diverge, and when government entities blur the lines of representation. He argues that verbal promises from politicians mean little if not backed by clear, enforceable laws. His perspective offers a pointed look at the structural issues facing SMEs, from disproportionate fines for minor errors to the hidden costs of sick leave that drive businesses towards temporary contracts. Readers will come away understanding why a powerful voice for smaller businesses often needs to be built from the ground up, and how seemingly minor regulatory details can have profound effects on an entire economy.