ZAGREB, Nov 4 (Hina) - The left coalition is guarantee that Croatia will enter the EU when planned and win upcoming parliamentary elections, the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Liberal Party (LS), and Libra -- Ivica
Racan, Ivo Banac, and Jozo Rados, said on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, Nov 4 (Hina) - The left coalition is guarantee that Croatia
will enter the EU when planned and win upcoming parliamentary
elections, the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the
Liberal Party (LS), and Libra -- Ivica Racan, Ivo Banac, and Jozo
Rados, said on Tuesday. #L#
The SDP today presented its platform and slates with 140
candidates. Less than half are SDP officials from the current
government and recently dissolved parliament, while 27 names on the
slates are candidates of the coalition made up of the LS, Libra, and
the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS).
SDP president Ivica Racan heads all SDP slates except in
constituency No. Eight (Istria and western Primorje-Gorski Kotar
counties), where the slate is headed by IDS vice president Damir
Kajin, in line with a pre-election coalition agreement between the
SDP and the IDS.
Speaking of the SDP platform, Racan said the party had governed the
country responsibly with its coalition partners over the past four
years, a principle he added it would stick to in the next term as
well. This refers to responsible government towards citizens and
the country's interest, he said.
The SDP will abide by other previously determined principles as
well, such as fair performance of public functions without having
state officials acquire wealth by taking advantage of privileges
afforded by position, Racan said.
He added the current coalition government was aware of its
omissions as well as of its future goals.
"The objectives in the next term are political stability,
development, reducing unemployment, increasing the standard of
living, reinforcing social security, and admission to the European
Union," said Racan.
When the coalition government beat the Croatian Democratic Union at
the last parliamentary election in 2000, it brought Croatia away
from the brink of an economic abyss and ensured the country's
development, he added.
"Citizens have contributed to that, but they have been unable to
feel better living standards and higher salaries due to the reforms
that have been taking place. Citizens will be able to feel the
effects of the reforms in the next term, when we expect the standard
of living to grow," Racan concluded.
(hina) ha sb