Hinko Pavlec appointed as permanent civil servant in Croatia

Hinko Pavlec, a former special advisor to Justice Minister Damir Habijan, has transitioned from a temporary advisory role to a permanent civil servant position at the Agency for Personal Data Protection. The agency operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.

Pavlec secured the position of advisor in the Sector for Supervision, Investigation, Technology, and Security through a public competition held in May. According to official records, he achieved a score of 95.33% during the testing and interview process.

His previous appointment as a special advisor for digital transformation drew public scrutiny due to a perceived lack of relevant professional experience. Prior to his work with the ministry, Pavlec’s background included roles as a dairy sales assistant and a seller of electric bicycles and sports equipment. Reports also noted that the minister and Pavlec participated in a race in Rijeka shortly before his initial appointment.