CRO PEASANT PARTY IN FAVOUR OF RACAN AS NEW PM DESIGNATE

ZAGREB, July 8 (Hina) - The Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) leader and the parliament's head, Zlatko Tomcic, on Monday said he expected that the resigned premier Ivica Racan would be the new prime minister designate as he enjoyed the support of 85 members of the parliament. #L# After his consultation with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on the appointment of the new PM designate, the HSS chief told reporters the consultations should be done in the shortest possible time term. Instead of holding broad negotiations on the new cabinet, the HSS would like to be fully dedicated to efforts aimed at solving concrete problems, Tomcic said. The HSS prefers the stability of the new government which would do its duties until the end of its term of office according to the constitution, but it would not support the artificial maintenance of the parliamentary majority. We want to assure the Croatian public that the new authorities could be constructive and serious and work for the benefit of the Croatian public and show that there is a way out from the current economic and social crisis, Tomcic said. Asked whether the new cabinet would be a left-centre government, the HSS leader answered that it would partly be so, but the government would also assume characteristics of the political centre and some of its members could be close to the policy of right- centre. (hina) ms