ZAGREB, March 7 (Hina) - The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) will remain a part of the ruling coalition under the condition that an agreement reached by the five parties is implemented, HSLS president Drazen Budisa said after a
session of the party's Executive Council. Budisa told reporters that the current government crisis is unbearable for citizens, coalition parties and the country's reputation. The HSLS believes that all contentious issues within the coalition can be solved by the end of next week. The HSLS still requests that its minister in the government Goranko Fizulic should leave his office by the end of the week, not in May, as Prime Minister Racan asked. The agreement was that Fizulic was to leave in May, but the HSLS cancelled it because of the minister's public statements, Budisa said. He dismissed claims that the reason for the crisis in the ruling coalition was his entry into the government. He claims th
ZAGREB, March 7 (Hina) - The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS)
will remain a part of the ruling coalition under the condition that
an agreement reached by the five parties is implemented, HSLS
president Drazen Budisa said after a session of the party's
Executive Council.
Budisa told reporters that the current government crisis is
unbearable for citizens, coalition parties and the country's
reputation. The HSLS believes that all contentious issues within
the coalition can be solved by the end of next week.
The HSLS still requests that its minister in the government Goranko
Fizulic should leave his office by the end of the week, not in May,
as Prime Minister Racan asked.
The agreement was that Fizulic was to leave in May, but the HSLS
cancelled it because of the minister's public statements, Budisa
said.
He dismissed claims that the reason for the crisis in the ruling
coalition was his entry into the government. He claims that this is
a battle for the party's independence in the coalition.
Budisa relayed conclusions by the Executive Council about which the
five ruling parties should make their decisions.
The HSLS agreed that Budisa, as president of the party, should
become deputy premier, which means that he would chair the
coordinating body for interior and foreign affairs.
The HSLS agrees that Goran Granic would take up office as deputy
premier as member of the HSLS, and Premier Racan should not accept
the resignations of HSLS's minister Jozo Rados, Hrvoje Kraljevic
and Andro Vlahusic.
The HSLS accepts the resignations of ministers Alojs Tusek and
Goranko Fizulic, and asks that they perform their ministerial
duties until all personnel changes in the government are
completed.
The HSLS agrees that Luka Trconic should become vice premier, and a
minister each of the Croatian People's Party and Liberal Party
should become members of the government cabinet.
The HSLS has suggested two amendments to the coalition agreement on
the formation of the government: that decisions be made by a two-
third majority vote, and that each party can, with prior
announcement and explanation to the premier, withdraw its
ministers from the government.
Explaining why he left a meeting of the ruling five on Wednesday,
Budisa said it bothered him that during the meeting, Racan's claim
that a coalition makes no sense was repeated several times.
Budisa called this a pessimistic stance.
He was adamant in his claim that Racan brought into question an
agreement that the HSLS president, as deputy premier, will be head
of the government's coordinating body for internal and foreign
affairs.
Budisa said nobody needs for the coalition crisis to be solved
through parliamentary elections, and added he believes he could
cooperate with Ivica Racan.
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