ZAGREB, July 29 (Hina) - Prime Minister Designate Ivica Racan will on Tuesday present his government and its programme to the Croatian parliament and ask for a vote of confidence in his new cabinet.
ZAGREB, July 29 (Hina) - Prime Minister Designate Ivica Racan will
on Tuesday present his government and its programme to the Croatian
parliament and ask for a vote of confidence in his new cabinet. #L#
The government's priorities to be implemented by the end of 2003,
that is the end of the government's term of office, have been set out
in 23 points.
Amongst them are the continuation of road construction, primarily
the Zagreb - Split motor way, the strengthening of financial
discipline and the fight against the grey economy, an increase in
direct investments and exports, the promotion of small and medium
entrepreneurship, continuing reforms in defence, health, the
social and pension systems and state administration.
Racan will face the Sabor with a proposal to increase his government
by one ministry and will present a list of ministers who will
replace outgoing Croatian Social Liberal Party members in the
government, after this party left the ruling coalition.
Premier Designate will ask for a vote of confidence in Ante Simonic
as Deputy Prime Minister, Zeljka Antunovic as Minister of Defence,
and who will formally stay as Deputy Prime Minister, Ljubo Jurcic,
Roland Zuvanic and Gvozden Flego as the Ministers of Economy,
Transport and Science respectively. Jurcic and Flego are non-
partisan candidates.
Racan proposes Gordana Sobol as minister without portfolio as well
as being the head of the significantly strengthened Prime
Minister's Cabinet.
If the Sabor accepts the proposals put forward by the Premier
Designate, that will formally put an end to Drazen Budisa's mandate
as Racan's deputy as well as to the ministerial term of office of
Jozo Rados (Defence), Hrvoje Vojkovic (Economy), Mario Kovac
(Transport) and Hrvoje Kraljevic (Science).
Budisa, Vojkovic and Kovac held offices in Racan's first government
for about three months.
The Sabor needs to give 76 of 151 votes for the government to gain
its confidence.
As 84 MPs expressed their support to the Prime Minister Designate in
early July, there should not be any surprises at Tuesday's
session.
The government will obtain votes from the Social Democratic Party
(SDP), Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Liberal Party (LS),
Croatian People's Party (HNS), MPs from regional parties and
minority MPs as well as Independent Liberals who formed a party
bench when they recently left the HSLS. Some other HSLS
representatives also could show their support depending on their
opinions of the Government's programme.
The Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) deputies and the one MP of
Croatian Independent Democratics (HND) announced their support for
the government.
The extraordinary session of the Sabor convened for July 30 and 31
and August 1, will deal with three other points on the agenda
amongst which is a constitutional bill on national minorities.
(hina) sp ms