ZAGREB, July 26 (Hina) - Prime Minister designate Ivica Racan said on Friday that he would not present the programme and make-up of the new government before doing so in parliament on Tuesday. He added the talks among the
parliamentary majority leaders about the new cabinet must wrap up tomorrow.
ZAGREB, July 26 (Hina) - Prime Minister designate Ivica Racan said
on Friday that he would not present the programme and make-up of the
new government before doing so in parliament on Tuesday. He added
the talks among the parliamentary majority leaders about the new
cabinet must wrap up tomorrow. #L#
Racan spoke to reporters after a five-hour meeting with partners
about the new ministers. The meeting was adjourned tonight until
tomorrow morning.
Racan said some names for the new cabinet had still not been agreed
on. He confirmed that Zagreb Faculty of Philosophy dean Neven Budak
was a contentious candidate for the post of science minister.
Asked if only Budak was contentious, Racan said: "We shall see
tomorrow."
He used the same answer to questions if incumbent Deputy Defence
Minister Zlatko Gareljic was a candidate for the minister of
defence, and if Ante Simonic of the Croatian Peasant Party was a
candidate for the post of deputy prime minister. He did confirm that
the possibility of appointing Simonic to that office had been
discussed.
Racan said he had the impression the Liberal Party and the Croatian
People's Party did not want their candidates on ministerial posts.
He added it remained to be seen if his position to have non-partisan
experts appointed to two prominent seats in the new cabinet would
come to fruition.
Racan stressed the partners' meetings did not discuss most of the
combinations mentioned in the media.
Asked if this in part was the result of lack of information, Racan
said the prime minister designate wanted to be serious and not speak
to the media without completing consultations and being certain
about his proposals.
(hina) ha