ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - The president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) bench, Mate Arlovic, said Friday there was no serious tension between the SDP and the Croatian People's Party (HSS). Tension existed more in the approach to
solving serious problems such as the great damage caused by drought, he said.
ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - The president of the Social Democratic Party
(SDP) bench, Mate Arlovic, said Friday there was no serious tension
between the SDP and the Croatian People's Party (HSS). Tension
existed more in the approach to solving serious problems such as the
great damage caused by drought, he said. #L#
One should approach this problem realistically, not auction with
1.4 million kuna of damage or with assessments that the price of
food would increase and social crisis worsen because of the
drought. This causes tension in the country, Arlovic said at the
party bench's news conference.
Using certain political issues, he added, some are asking that
funds be secured from the government budget for certain categories
of citizens, to the detriment of others.
The ruling coalition will not fall apart because of this dispute,
but it could if a certain issue is politicised so as to cause early
elections, he said.
"There is always a possibility of early elections. Those who want
them have to bear the burden and risk of postponing Croatia's
accession to the EU," Arlovic said, but refused to specify which
party he was referring to.
Those who advocate elections to be held before the end of October,
when the government should fulfil its obligations towards the EU,
are risking to push Croatia back to regional approach, he said.
Arlovic stressed that the SDP denounced electoral activities
within the ruling coalition. The party especially opposes
ministries behaving like they are in an electoral campaign and
using budgetary funds due to which embezzlement could occur, he
said.
Electoral activities in parliament are legitimate for the
opposition, Arlovic said, adding that the signature of opposition
parties on the declaration on joining the EU was merely
declarative.
Arlovic illustrated this with the example of the parliament's
request that the urgent procedure label be taken off the set of
European laws and new bills moved which did not have priority.
He added that party benches did not exert maximum efforts to have
Croatia become a member of the EU as soon as possible.
The SDP does not wish to take part in this, nor in giving merits to
parties for government's work, he said, adding that all government
merits had been achieved under the coalition's political
leadership.
(hina) lml sb