DC-HSLS COALITION PRESENTS ELECTION CANDIDATES IN VUKOVAR

VUKOVAR, Oct 19 (Hina) - The coalition of the Democratic Centre (DC) and the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) on Sunday presented its candidates for forthcoming parliamentary elections in the fifth constituency, which covers the counties of Vukovar-Srijem, Slavonski Brod-Posavina and Pozega-Slavonia. #L# Addressing a rally in the eastern Danube river town of Vukovar, DC leader Mate Granic said that the DC-HSLS coalition was "the most natural" coalition in Croatia without which no future government was possible. Granic stressed the need for total change in the way in which the state was being run, including the present model of relations with neighbouring countries and international financial institutions. "We will introduce several rates of the Value Added Tax, change the law preventing conflict of interests, which was designed to suit the interests of the ruling coalition, establish a national bank to monitor the domestic economy, pass a new privatisation law and a new law on the powers of the parliament so that it can decide on Croatia's foreign debt," Granic told a crowd of about 500 members and sympathisers. Granic went on to say that their future coalition partners would be centrist and centre-right parties. HSLS leader Drazen Budisa said he hoped that the HSLS-DC coalition and other opposition parties would "manage to form a government that will be more responsible and capable than the present one." Budisa called on citizens to "opt for Croatia, because it's worthy of the sacrifice that was made for it." The rally was also addressed by Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, who heads the coalition's slate in the fifth constituency. She criticised the government for "selling Croatia and incurring an enormous foreign debt." (hina) vm