CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION URGES EARLY ELECTION

ZAGREB, July 4 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Ivo Sanader, on Thursday reiterated his stand that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Prime Minister Ivica Racan were primarily at fault for the crisis in the ruling coalition and the country. The way out of the crisis can only be an early election, Sanader said. #L# Speaking at a press conference in the parliament, Sanader said that the HDZ would under no circumstances support a minority government or form any kind of coalition with the SDP. Estimating that the country was in a state of deep crisis, Sanader said Racan would try to lay the blame for the break-up of the coalition with Drazen Budisa and his Social Liberals (HSLS). He added that the true reason for the failure of the coalition was the fact that it was not formed on the basis of a common programme but rather just to oppose the HDZ at the time. Even if the new government gains support from the majority in the Sabor, divisions will flare up again during the adoption of next year's budget, so the only solution to the crisis is an early election, he said. Sanader stressed that the HDZ supported the normalisation of political relations in the country and believed that every government should serve its mandate to the end, except in cases when it was detrimental to the country. He confirmed media headlines that a month and a half ago he met with Racan, stressing that the meeting focused on a constitutional law on minority rights. The HDZ will continue advocating a consensus among as many sides as possible on issues concerning state and national interests, Sanader said. He said the HDZ party bench president Vladimir Seks was preparing a constitutional suit against the parliament's decision to ratify the agreement on the Krsko nuclear power plant. (hina) sp sb