ZAGREB, July 10 (Hina) - A former member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Ivic Pasalic, on Wednesday stated that the decision to expel him from the party is in continuation of the political show down by party president Ivo
Sanader and other party members, Vladimir Seks and Branimir Glavas who are prepared to negotiate with the current government on a possible coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
ZAGREB, July 10 (Hina) - A former member of the Croatian Democratic
Union (HDZ), Ivic Pasalic, on Wednesday stated that the decision to
expel him from the party is in continuation of the political show
down by party president Ivo Sanader and other party members,
Vladimir Seks and Branimir Glavas who are prepared to negotiate
with the current government on a possible coalition with the Social
Democratic Party (SDP). #L#
I do not intend to appeal against the decision by the party's court
of honour, Pasalic claimed at a press conference.
He will not abstain from his mandate as a Member of Parliament
because he considers a request of this nature by Sanader and Seks as
almost black humour.
I am going to remain present in the public and politics and I will
return when the party once again returns to its origins. I support a
HDZ as set up by late (Franjo) Tudjman and (Gojko) Susak while
Sanader has taken on the role to disintegrate the party and is
endeavouring to remove all those who do not think like him, Pasalic
claimed.
He added that Sanader, Seks and Glavas were on a campaign to "de-
Tudjmanise" the party so that it could become a party favourable to
form a coalition with the SDP.
Deep divisions have arisen in the HDZ over fundamental values and
directives, he said.
He stressed that Sanader was removing people from the party who were
truly an alternative to the current government.
Pasalic said that Sanader used diversions and show down tactics in
the party but has done nothing to prepare the party for the
forthcoming election.
He emphasised that he was proud of his two years in the opposition
when he was confronted with a show down by the current government
and the HDZ.
Even though Pasalic believes the party will fare well at the
election - because the current government is desperate - he still
believes that the party as it is will experience a fiasco because it
has not prepared itself to take over power.
He did not respond to a question of whether he would set up a new
party or whether he was invited by Budisa. Pasalic just smiled in
response and said "Sanader and Seks will look even more confused
than Budisa is today."
(hina) sp ms