ZAGREB, July 5 (Hina) - One of the founders of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Ivo Skrabalo, said on Friday that MPs within the ranks of the party who oppose the policy of party president Drazen Budisa, could soon form an
independent liberals' bench which would support the new government.
ZAGREB, July 5 (Hina) - One of the founders of the Croatian Social
Liberal Party (HSLS), Ivo Skrabalo, said on Friday that MPs within
the ranks of the party who oppose the policy of party president
Drazen Budisa, could soon form an independent liberals' bench which
would support the new government. #L#
"We are thinking of establishing our own party bench, because we do
not see how we can function as members of parliament in the existing
HSLS bench which is completely under Budisa's patronage," Skrabalo
said.
"We will support Ivica Racan's new government in which in will be
easier to breathe without Budisa, although we must not delude
ourselves that Budisa was the only reason for insufficient results
of the coalition government," Skrabalo told Hina.
Budisa has announced he would oust MPs who voted for the
ratification of the Croatian-Slovene Krsko nuclear power plant
deal contrary to a decision of the HSLS, the chief partner of
Premier Racan's Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the coalition.
Skrabalo has no ambitions to establish a new liberal party, but says
he will support the new government, because it is "on the path of
turning positive macroeconomic indicators to benefit citizens'
pockets".
"In the next 18 months, there is a good chance and reason for a
certain optimism," Skrabalo said.
Apart from six MPs of the HSLS, the party's ministers also sided
with the government and coalition -- Jozo Rados, Hrvoje Kraljevic,
Andro Vlahusic, and Vice-Premier Goran Granic.
Skrabalo believes that the HSLS "caused the government crisis and
disrupted the country's stability".
"This could easily have caused early elections, with the HSLS
having catastrophic results in all polls," he said.
Skrabalo believes that Budisa should tender his resignation, and if
he did not realise this, he would lead the party out of the
parliament.
Skrabalo stressed that Budisa had the populist part of the party
behind him, a large number of whom were against any kind of
coalition with the SDP, but are wishing for coalition with right-
wing parties.
Skrabalo believes Budisa's place is not in the far right, where a
part of the party is pushing him.
With regards to the Hague-based international war crimes tribunal,
Budisa has succumbed to party populism, and has not shown "wisdom or
patience", he said.
Croatia has still not faced the fact that "heinous" war crimes were
committed, justified with the Homeland War, and that not only
individuals committed them, Skrabalo said.
"The general political climate dictated by Franjo Tudjman's regime
benefited this," he said.
Within the HSLS, Budisa is surrounded with elements orientated to
the right wing, Skrabalo said.
He does not see, however, who might need another nationalist party,
along with the existing Croatian Democratic Union, Croatian Party
of Rights, Croatian True Revival, Democratic Centre, Croatian
Party of Rights 1861 and the Croatian Christian Democratic Union.
"The nationalist offer is very rich," he said.
Liberalism in the HSLS is currently lost, although there are
sufficient liberals in the party who "are thinking differently to
Budisa's sympathisers", he said.
Asked who he thought could replace Budisa as party president,
Skrabalo said he respected HSLS vice-presidents Djurdja Adlesic
and Ivan Cehok.
He believes, however, that it is up to them to opt for which HSLS
future they wish.
(hina) lml sb