OSIJEK COUNTY ASSEMBLY OSIJEK, April 16 (Hina) - Parties of the ruling coalition in the Osijek-Baranja County Assembly (Social Democratic Party - SDP, Liberal Party - LS, and Croatian Peasant Party - HSS) have stated that the Justice
Ministry has decided that there is no reason to dissolve the county assembly even though 26 councillors - from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) - have resigned to their posts.
OSIJEK, April 16 (Hina) - Parties of the ruling coalition in the
Osijek-Baranja County Assembly (Social Democratic Party - SDP,
Liberal Party - LS, and Croatian Peasant Party - HSS) have stated
that the Justice Ministry has decided that there is no reason to
dissolve the county assembly even though 26 councillors - from the
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Croatian Social Liberal Party
(HSLS) and the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) - have resigned to
their posts. #L#
HDZ, HSLS and HSP councillors in the Osijek County Assembly
resigned to their posts last week. After an HSS councillor went over
to the HDZ, the number of councillors who resigned rose to 26, which
made a majority of seats.
The HSS then stated that it would appoint a deputy to its councillor
who joined HDZ ranks, thus securing the necessary quorum of 26
councillors. Libra party member Vilim Herman said he would re-
activate the mandate he won while a member of the HSLS, while the SDP
stated it would appoint another councillor from its roster under
regulations on minority representation in bodies of local
administration, so the coalition could have the majority of 28
councillors.
County Assembly president Ramir Ristic quoted the ministry as
saying that the resignation of more than half the councillors did
not mean a permanent lack of quorum as long as their deputies could
be appointed and competent bodies were willing to appoint them.
The head of the SDP in Osijek-Baranja County, Zeljko Malevic, said
the assembly "is legal, legitimate and has a quorum" and called on
opposition parties to appoint deputies to their councillors who
resigned.
Commenting on HDZ leader Ivo Sanader's statement that the situation
in Osijek County was an act of "violence and violation of laws",
Malevic said the ruling coalition insisted on respect for laws in
the adoption of which "Sanader participated as well".
"Disregarding the law, violating legal provisions and attempting
to persecute... all who think differently than the local HDZ is the
violation of Croatia's constitutional order," Malevic said,
commenting on lawsuits filed by the HDZ's county branch against
him, the county prefect, the president of the county assembly and
the county secretary for their alleged spreading of false
information about attempts at illegal re-organisation of local
authorities.
The head of the HDZ's county branch, Branimir Glavas, said the
ministry's decision was "shameful and tendentious" and came from
"the red regime justice secretariat".
The HDZ, HSLS and HSP today stated they would challenge the
ministry's decision and insist that the county assembly be
dissolved and new elections called.
The parties said they would sue Deputy Justice Minister Miljenko
Kovac, who signed the contentious decision, and launch proceedings
about the matter before the parliamentary committee on
legislation.
The Osijek County Assembly has called a session for Thursday.
(hina) rml