SDP SAYS NO PRE-ELECTION COALITION WITH LIBRA AT NATIONAL LEVEL

ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - The Social Democratic Party (SDP) said on Tuesday it would not form a pre-election coalition with the Libra party at national level but only in individual constituencies in order to prevent the loss of two to three percent of votes Libra can win for a future centre-left coalition. #L# Speaking at a news briefing, which the party said would be held regularly until the end of the election campaign, SDP officials said they were convinced that Libra, the smallest party in the ruling coalition, was capable of winning the minimum number of votes necessary for entering parliament. Although all pre-election opinion polls show that Libra lacks the necessary voter support, the SDP officials said their party would form a coalition with Libra regardless. The SDP also counts on a post-election coalition with another liberal party, the LS, which has been in the incumbent coalition government since the start of its term. (hina) vm