ZAGREB, July 12 (Hina) - Premier designate Ivica Racan on Friday told journalists that most of his potential coalition partners realised that there was a need to reduce the government, however, they did not consider this was the time
to do so.
ZAGREB, July 12 (Hina) - Premier designate Ivica Racan on Friday
told journalists that most of his potential coalition partners
realised that there was a need to reduce the government, however,
they did not consider this was the time to do so. #L#
"The partners believe that the new government concept should be
prepared by the new government, which should legalise it for the
duration of its mandate," Racan said after consultations with the
heads of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Croatian People's
Party (HNS), and the Liberal Party (LS), as well as a representative
of the Independent Liberals bench, Jozo Rados.
When asked if that meant that his proposal was not accepted, Racan
answered in the positive, adding that reforms could not be
imposed.
"My opinion alone is not enough for such a complex reform process,"
Racan said.
He said that it was agreed at today's meeting that the basis to form
the new government should be an agreement on parliamentary majority
and support for the government, and that a new coalition agreement
should not be drawn up.
Talks about that agreement are underway, and key programme tasks
will be its integral part, he added.
The premier designate believes that the job of forming the new
government could be completed before the expiry of the
constitutional deadline, i.e. within two weeks.
The extraordinary parliamentary sitting at which MPs are to decide
about confidence in the new government will also include a debate on
a constitutional bill on national minorities, Racan said.
The electoral bill will not be discussed for now, he added.
Distancing himself from and dismissing media speculation, Racan
said that the participants in the meeting did not discuss personnel
issues.
There has been much speculation about the concept and composition
of the new government. "There is not one minister that has not been
replaced, or a ministry that has not been abolished or integrated
into some other," Racan said, commenting on media speculation.
He did not say precisely whether he would retain his deputies in the
new government.
(hina) sp rml