ZAGREB, Feb 2 (Hina) - Drazen Budisa and Jozo Rados, candidates for the post of Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) president, presented their electoral programmes at a party convention in Zagreb on Saturday. Presenting his
programme, Budisa, who was welcomed with a round of loud applause, responded to the criticisms of party members who spoke before him, including Goran Granic. He dismissed Granic's claim that after the 2000 elections the HSLS had kept an opposition mentality. The HSLS did not keep an opposition mentality but a liberal mentality, he said. He also dismissed claims that he decided about the professional careers of party members while he was HSLS president. The HSLS did not meddle in other parties' internal affairs, Budisa said, adding he believed political partnership was based on consensus rather than political cunning. "We advocate partnership and not tutorship and that is what we decide about w
ZAGREB, Feb 2 (Hina) - Drazen Budisa and Jozo Rados, candidates for
the post of Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) president,
presented their electoral programmes at a party convention in
Zagreb on Saturday.
Presenting his programme, Budisa, who was welcomed with a round of
loud applause, responded to the criticisms of party members who
spoke before him, including Goran Granic.
He dismissed Granic's claim that after the 2000 elections the HSLS
had kept an opposition mentality. The HSLS did not keep an
opposition mentality but a liberal mentality, he said.
He also dismissed claims that he decided about the professional
careers of party members while he was HSLS president.
The HSLS did not meddle in other parties' internal affairs, Budisa
said, adding he believed political partnership was based on
consensus rather than political cunning.
"We advocate partnership and not tutorship and that is what we
decide about when we elect the new party leadership," Budisa said.
He stressed the HSLS wanted to preserve its political strength and
subjectivity in the coalition.
Over the past few weeks, attempts were made to create an atmosphere
of psychosis, which is aimed at influencing the outcome of the HSLS
convention, Budisa said.
"Attempts are being made to make you believe that my being elected
party president is a danger for the country's stability and even its
international position," Budisa said, describing such attempts as
dirty political propaganda which the Liberals would not accept.
There is no deception, treason or struggles for high positions in
the HSLS, such accusations are only being used to cover up mistakes
in the party's work, Budisa's rival Rados said presenting his
programme.
Rados sees lack of honesty as the main problem in the party. "We have
levelled public accusations against one another while not a single
important question was opened at party sessions," Rados said,
stressing a modern political party could not function that way.
Rados said his programme was the government programme, on the basis
of which the HSLS won the support of the electorate.
Responding to Budisa's claim about tutorship, Rados said he was a
man who listened to what other people said and thought but he never
had a tutor.
Rados said his mandate as acting party president did not allow any
major changes, but he believes he deserves credit for maintaining
peace in the party.
If I was able to protect the party from breaking up in the recent
troubled period, I will be able to lead it in more peaceful
conditions, if you support me, Rados told HSLS members.
Fourteen candidates for the posts of party vice-presidents also
presented their programmes today.
A vote is underway, after which the composition of the new party
leadership will be known.
(hina) sb rml