ZAGREB, Dec 7 (Hina) - President Stjepan Mesic starts talks with representatives of parliamentary parties and coalitions on the appointment of the premier-designate on Monday.
ZAGREB, Dec 7 (Hina) - President Stjepan Mesic starts talks with
representatives of parliamentary parties and coalitions on the
appointment of the premier-designate on Monday. #L#
Conditions for starting the talks were met after the final and
official results of parliamentary elections were published in the
Official Gazette, which marked the start of the official deadline
for the formation of the new parliament.
The new parliament has 152 deputies -- 140 elected from slates in 10
constituencies, four elected in constituency no. 11, the one where
emigrants vote, and eight elected by ethnic minorities in
constituency no. 12.
Under the Constitution, the president of the republic entrusts the
formation of the government to the person who enjoys the support of
the majority of MPs.
Mesic will thus hold the first talks with the president of the
Croatian Democratic Union and likeliest premier-designate, Ivo
Sanader, whose party has won 66 seats. Sanader also has the support
for the formation of the new government of 10 MPs of other parties
and minority MPs. Italian minority MP Furio Radin has announced he
will endorse Sanader, as has the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS).
Also tomorrow, Mesic will hold talks with delegations of the Social
Democrats, the coalition of the Social Liberals and the Democratic
Centre, the Istrian Democratic Assembly, Libra, the Liberal Party,
the Alliance of Primorje and Gorski Kotar, the Croatian People's
Party, the HSS, and the Croatian Party of Rights.
On Tuesday, Mesic is due to hold talks with delegations of the
Croatian Pensioners Party and ethnic minorities.
The President might reveal the premier-designate on Tuesday,
although he said on Sunday the outline of the new government might
be known as early as Monday evening.
(hina) ha