ZAGREB, July 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) ministers in the government of Prime Minister Ivica Racan, who resigned on Friday, have commented differently on the events in the government and their party, as well as
on their future decisions.
ZAGREB, July 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS)
ministers in the government of Prime Minister Ivica Racan, who
resigned on Friday, have commented differently on the events in the
government and their party, as well as on their future decisions.
#L#
"I will follow my party's political destiny - if it does not
participate in the government, I won't either. Any other decision
would compromise me morally and politically," Economy Minister
Hrvoje Vojkovic told reporters in front of the government.
Science and Technology Minister Hrvoje Kraljevic said he was ready
to join the new government. "I have prepared a serious reform which
is important for Croatia because the country has only seven percent
of highly educated citizens," Kraljevic said.
Health Minister Andro Vlahusic said he supported both the
government and his party. The HSLS and the Social Democrats (SDP)
together won more than 40 percent of votes with a joint programme,
Vlahusic said, adding that he supported "the government with the
current composition of the parliament".
Vice-Premier Goran Granic said his stay in the government depended
on whether the government would work seriously or only formally. "I
don't want to waste time in this building doing nothing," said
Granic, who joined Racan's government at the beginning of the
mandate as Racan's First Deputy from among the HSLS ranks. After
last year's coalition crisis, he remained at his post as a non-party
first deputy prime minister.
Asked if he considered himself an HSLS member, Granic said he was "a
Liberal by conviction".
Today's government session, at which Prime Minister Racan
announced his resignation, bringing down the entire government,
was not attended by HSLS Defence Minister Jozo Rados, who is
participating in a conference of the Vilnius Group in Riga.
The media previously quoted Rados as saying that due to his
disagreement with the HSLS's policy he would support the coalition
and the government, regardless of whether he would remain its
member.
Transport Minister Mario Kovac sided with Budisa, saying he would
leave the government should it no longer include the HSLS.
(hina) rml sb