ZAGREB, July 3 (Hina) - A majority in parliament is not in question, the ruling coalition has support not only from its members, but also from some parties which are not formally in the coalition, the president of the Social
Democratic Party (SDP) bench, Mato Arlovic, said after the coalition managed to acquire 80 votes for the ratification of a Croatian-Slovene deal on the Krsko nuclear power plant even without the support of most MPs of the Social Liberals (HSLS).
ZAGREB, July 3 (Hina) - A majority in parliament is not in question,
the ruling coalition has support not only from its members, but also
from some parties which are not formally in the coalition, the
president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) bench, Mato Arlovic,
said after the coalition managed to acquire 80 votes for the
ratification of a Croatian-Slovene deal on the Krsko nuclear power
plant even without the support of most MPs of the Social Liberals
(HSLS). #L#
The coalition gathered 80 votes from members of the SDP, Croatian
Peasants' Party (HSS), Liberal Party (LS), Istrian Democratic
Assembly (IDS), the regional Primorje-Gorski Kotar
Alliance/Slavonia-Baranja Croatian Party (PGS/SBHS), MPs for the
minorities and an MP for the Croatian Independent Democrats (HND).
Seventy-six votes were needed for the ratification, as well as a
possible minority government.
Six out of 23 MPs from the coalition's HSLS voted for the
ratification, supporting Prime Minister Ivica Racan and the
government.
Asked whether today's vote was officially the end of the five-party
coalition, Arlovic said that four parties, with exception of the
HSLS, would made the decision.
After Wednesday's session of the SDP bench, unofficial party
sources have reported that if the government becomes a minority
one, Premier Racan would suggest the institute of vice-premier to
be rescinded, and that the number of ministries be reduced from 19
to 12 or 14.
A new law on government is necessary for a government reshuffle.
This has given rise to new speculations among coalition parties in
the parliament regarding the allocation of ministerial offices,
who would be reinstated into the parliament from the government,
and who would "be left out to dry".
If a reshuffle occurs, the fate of five HSLS ministers will be in
question.
Defence Minister Jozo Rados and Science Minister Hrvoje Kraljevic
have turned their back to their party's president and Deputy Prime
Minister Drazen Budisa, and stated that they supported the
government and its programme, not the HSLS's policy which they
described as harmful.
Kraljevic said that he held the HSLS leadership responsible for the
crisis of the ruling coalition.
HSLS ministers, besides Rados and Kraljevic, are also health
Minister Andro Vlahusic, Maritime Affairs, Transport and
Communications Minister Mario Kovac, and Economy Minister Hrvoje
Vojkovic.
(hina) lml