ZAGREB, Jan 31(Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader and Croatia's Premier has refuted criticism which the parliamentary opposition levelled against the HDZ accusing it of having adjudicating on the issue of the division
of places belonging to opposition MPs in the commission in charge of preventing the conflict of interest.
ZAGREB, Jan 31(Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader and
Croatia's Premier has refuted criticism which the parliamentary
opposition levelled against the HDZ accusing it of having adjudicating
on the issue of the division of places belonging to opposition MPs in
the commission in charge of preventing the conflict of interest.#L#
After Saturday's session of his party's National Council in Zagreb,
Ivo Sanader dismissed accusations that it was clear that the HDZ had
not been transformed and that the all masks were off when the party
turned down a motion that on behalf of the opposition, Tonci Tadic of
the Croatian Part of Rights (HSP), together with Milanka Opacic of the
Social Democratic Party (SDP), should be appointed in the said
commission.
Sanader refuted claims saying that his party "has shown it own
strength as well as the readiness to correct its own mistakes". He
explained that his party had corrected the initial version on the
make-up of the commission which envisaged three representatives of the
parliamentary majority and two opposition MPs in the commission.
On Thursday, the parliamentary Committee on Elections and Appointment
drew up a proposal for the appointment of members of the Commission
for the Prevention of the Conflict of Interest without the votes of
the Opposition. Despite the opposition's protest, the Committee moved
that Ratko Gajica of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) be
appointed member of the Commission as one from the ranks of the
opposition. Asked by a reported why Gajica had been proposed as an
opposition representative, when the SDSS was treated as part of the
ruling majority in the set-up of other parliamentary working bodies,
Committee chairman Branimir Glavas claimed that Gajica had been
appointed as one from the ranks of opposition parties.
Other nominees were Marija Bajt (HDZ), Djurdja Adlesic of the Croatian
Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and Milanka Opacic (SDP). Glavas at the
time interpreted that the parliamentary majority-minority ratio in the
commission was 2:2.
On Friday, Gajica withdrew his candidacy and let Tadic be given
priority for the election in the commission. The HDZ then moved a new
proposal and instead of Gajica, Antun Kapraljevic of the Croatian
People's Party (HNS) was elected as a representative of the
opposition, together with Marija Bajt of the HDZ and Djurdja Adlesic
of the HSLS as representatives of the parliamentary majority, and
three external members: Zeljko Horvatic, Davor Derencinovic and Petar
Marija Radelj.
The second position for the opposition representative remained vacant,
as Opacic of the SDP withdrew her candidacy.
Responding to claims that the HDZ arbitrated in the entire case,
Glavas said that in line with laws and the Sabor's book of rules, the
parliamentary majority made a political decision to let the two
strongest opposition parties to have its representatives in the
commission. Glavas said this referring to the SDP and HNS which are
the first and second largest opposition party according to their seats
in the parliament. Glavas went on to say that turning down the
candidacy of Tadic from the HSP was "a political decision".
Sanader on Saturday refuted allegations that Tadic was politically
unacceptable for the HDZ, emphasising that every deputy to the
parliament elected by Croatian voters was acceptable for the HDZ.
He went on to say that his cabinet would fully support the commisson
in charge of the prevention of conflict of interest which he labelled
as one of burning issues in Croatian society.
(Hina) ms