REACTIONS TO SDP'S DECISION ON MAYOR'S IRREVOCABLE RESIGNATION - PART 1

ZAGREB, Jan 20 (Hina) - The coalition partners of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Sunday hailed a decision of the SDP Presidency that Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic should submit an irrevocable resignation. Spokesman for the Croatian People's Party (HNS) Boris Blazekovic said the decision had to be made by the SDP. All this time the HNS insisted that the decision be made within the SDP which in the end happened, said the spokesman for the party which controls the Zagreb City Council in coalition with the SDP. "The SDP needs to propose a successor within 30 day, whom the HNS, being the coalition partner, is most probably to support," said Blazekovic and added otherwise new elections for the Zagreb City Council would be held. Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic caused a minor car accident in a residential area, in downtown Zagreb, on January 5, and fled the scene of crash. Police stopped Bandic and breathalysed him. He had three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood. Bandic has publicly apologised, paid a fine and lost his driver's licence. At a news conference on January 8, Bandic made his mandate available. The SDP supported mayor's decision and decided to ask the city council to cast a no-confidence vote. The Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) hailed Bandic's irrevocable resignation. The HSS says the decision should have been made immediately after the accident. The decision needed to be made right at the beginning to avoid events which followed and were to the detriment of Bandic, his party (SDP) and the coalition, Luka Trconjic said on behalf of the HSS. The acting president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Jozo Rados, also welcomed the decision on Bandic's irrevocable resignation and expressed hope it would contribute to establishing criteria for the behaviour of political and other officials. (hina) it sb