ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - Most of the Croatian parliamentary opposition parties have announced they will not support the new government, which was presented in parliament on Tuesday by Prime Minister-designate Ivo Sanader of the
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).
ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - Most of the Croatian parliamentary opposition
parties have announced they will not support the new government, which
was presented in parliament on Tuesday by Prime Minister-designate Ivo
Sanader of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).#L#
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the coalition of the Croatian
People's Party (HNS) and the Alliance of Primorje and Gorski Kotar
(PGS) were explicitly against the programme, while the liberal party
Libra and the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) were less critical.
The Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) said it would abstain from the vote
of confidence in the new government.
The Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), the Croatian Social Liberal Party
(HSLS), the Democratic Centre (DC), the Independent Democratic Serb
Party (SDSS) and national minority representatives announced their
support for the HDZ-led government.
All the parties, however, backed Sanader's aim to take Croatia into
the European Union and NATO before the end of the term of his
government and to cut taxes and contributions, increase pensions and
allowances, and reduce state administration.
Most of the opposition parties said that the government programme was
too general and flimsy and had no realistic basis in the national
budget.
Mato Arlovic of the SDP said that the promises given in the programme
would be impossible to deliver without more foreign borrowing.
HNS/PGS deputy Dragutin Lesar said the programme did not specify
methods, pace or strategy of its implementation.
Damir Kajin of the IDS recommended that the new government continue
implementing the programme of refugee return and not spite the Hague
war crimes tribunal because that would diminish the chances of Croatia
joining the European Union.
Jozo Rados said Libra would judge the work of the new government on
whether it would manage to maintain the level of democracy achieved in
the country.
HSP leader Anto Djapic said the HDZ did not respect the will of the
electorate to form a coalition with centrist and centre-right
parties.
HSS president Zlatko Tomcic said that any delay in forming the
government would be detrimental to the country and its economy.
Ivan Cehok said the HSLS/DC coalition would vote for the new
government, but added that its programme looked as if it had been
written by high-school students.
Milorad Pupovac of the SDSS said he expected the new government to
show determination and efficiency, promote tolerance and the full
equality of all citizens, work on the return of refugees, and
coordinate relations between returning refugees and settlers occupying
their property.
(Hina) vm sb