ZAGREB, Nov 14 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has said he does not at all insist on a coalition between the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) but he also does not rule out that
possibility for a one-year period so that "the job with the European Union" should not be discontinued or new elections called.
ZAGREB, Nov 14 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has said he
does not at all insist on a coalition between the Social Democratic
Party (SDP) and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) but he also does
not rule out that possibility for a one-year period so that "the job
with the European Union" should not be discontinued or new
elections called. #L#
Asked in an interview with Friday's Novi List and Glas Slavonije
dailies whether he would support such a coalition, Mesic answered
that the coalition would not be desirable but only "a necessary evil
for a certain period of time".
"If those who would like to form this or that coalition, would ask
too much, something which the HDZ or SDP could not accept, (these
two parties) could reach agreement on a coalition for a one-year
period so as not to discontinue the job with the EU and hold yet
another election," the head of state said, explaining that the
balance of strength would be the same at the new elections, too.
"As both the HDZ and the SDP rule out that possibility (their
coalition), let it be so, but I still do not rule it out," Mesic
said, adding that he did not insist on it either.
Asked whether such a coalition would mean the betrayal of voters,
Mesic answered that the crux of the issue was what that coalition
could solve. He went on to say that it was not up to him but to the two
parties to answer that question.
Asked whether the said coalition would have any legitimacy, he
answered in the affirmative.
(hina) ms