HSLS WILL OFFER BUDISA AS DEPUTY PREMIER AND FIVE MINISTERS

ZAGREB, Feb 28 (Hina) - As far as the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) is concerned, there are currently six empty seats in the government, and the HSLS executive Council will, besides Drazen Budisa as candidate for first deputy prime minister, be offering five new candidates for the empty ministers' seats, the party's spokesman, Josko Kontic, told a news conference on Thursday. "The HSLS supports this government and its programme and is ready to offer new people for the emptied seats, in agreement with the prime minister. There is, therefore, no reason for a vote of confidence for the government to be held in parliament," Kontic said. "If this does happen, if the prime minister asks for a vote of confidence, we will se this as an attempt of provoking divisions within the HSLS parliament bench, and a reply to such a situation has already been prepared," Kontic stressed. He refused to speak in more detail about concrete steps the party would take, nor about the names of the new ministers. By resigning, the six HSLS ministers brought great harm to the party and the ruling coalition, assuming responsibility not only for their status in the government and party, but also for the future of the ruling coalition, he stressed. (hina) lml