OSIJEK COUNTY ASSEMBLY OSIJEK, April 14 (Hina) - Three opposition parties in the Osijek-Baranja County Assembly - the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), whose
26 deputies resigned last week, on Monday forwarded a written request to the government and justice ministry urging them to pass a decision dissolving the assembly and appoint a government commissioner.
OSIJEK, April 14 (Hina) - Three opposition parties in the Osijek-
Baranja County Assembly - the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ),
Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and the Croatian Party of
Rights (HSP), whose 26 deputies resigned last week, on Monday
forwarded a written request to the government and justice ministry
urging them to pass a decision dissolving the assembly and appoint a
government commissioner. #L#
Representatives of the three parties said they would sue competent
officials in the county assembly and justice ministry in case the
government and ministry did not dissolve the assembly or decided
that the assembly session, scheduled for April 17, could be held.
The deputies claim that there are no conditions for the ruling
coalition to secure a quorum in the assembly and hold the session.
The heads of the parties' county branches, Branimir Glavas,
Vladimir Belaj and Gordan Matkovic, told reporters today their
parties would sue responsible officials in the justice ministry,
the chairman of the county assembly, Ramiro Ristic, Osijek County
prefect Zdravko Bosancic, and assembly secretary Davor Bruncic.
Glavas said the assembly lacked a quorum to verify a newly-elected
Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) deputy who replaced another HSS deputy
who went over to the HDZ and resigned together with other deputies
last week. That means that the assembly also does not have the
majority of 26 deputies, Glavas said.
According to the assembly's rule book and statute, new deputies are
verified by a credentials commission and confirmed by the assembly,
which at the moment cannot be done as the assembly does not have the
necessary majority, Glavas said.
"This is how the Osijek-Baranja County Assembly has been
functioning for the past ten years, and the same thing happened at
the last session on March 13, when several new deputies were
appointed. If the ruling coalition, whose sole objective is to
remain in power, still decides to hold the session, we will use all
democratic means to prevent it," Glavas said.
The head of the HSP's county council, Gordan Matkovic, said that six
months ago his party had called for new elections due to
dissatisfaction with the performance of the coalition government.
(hina) rml