ZAGREB, July 30 (Hina) - Parliamentary benches of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Democratic Centre (DC), Croatian Party of Rights/Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HSP/HKDU) on Tuesday announced that they would not support
the new government and its programme while at the same time the new government can count on support from the new parliamentary majority.
ZAGREB, July 30 (Hina) - Parliamentary benches of the Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ), Democratic Centre (DC), Croatian Party of
Rights/Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HSP/HKDU) on Tuesday
announced that they would not support the new government and its
programme while at the same time the new government can count on
support from the new parliamentary majority. #L#
The HDZ, Ivo Sanader said on behalf of the party's bench, will not
support the government because, as he claims, the experiment
commenced on January 3, 2000 is just continuing. This is when
Croatia stepped into a new, but bad experience. The electorate
sought changes - the government was changed, but it has
deteriorated the quality of life and the standard of living for
citizens, the HDZ leader said.
The results achieved by the previous government, Sanader believes,
is the fall in living standards, a general apathy in society. He
accused the government for the lower ranking in foreign affairs
than the country had two and a half years ago.
Ante Djapic (HSP/HKDU) said that with bids to form the new
government, political notions had already appeared which could not
guarantee any stability in the government because it was
overshadowed by countless bargains which even smelt of blackmail
and concessions.
Djapic admitted that the government's programme contained some
good elements, for example, the intention to construct highways. He
however objected to a small amount of attention given to the foreign
policy, relations to neighbouring countries and politics towards
Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The DC (Democratic Centre) does not see any progress in the new
government or its programme that can guarantee that anything will
improve for citizens.
DC representative Vesna Skare-Ozbolt stressed that the new
government formally and staff wise was just the continuation of the
current status and the fact that such a small country like Croatia
could increase the number of ministries was indication that
bargaining took place between parties.
The new government is not legitimate because one of the parties that
won at the elections is no longer in the (ruling) coalition, Djurda
Adlesic said on behalf of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS)
bench, objecting to the new mixing of cards taking place in the
Sabor.
She reminded that the HSLS suggested new (early) elections and when
this was not accepted then it proposed that an interim technical
government be convened of experts with fewer ministries.
She described the new government's programme as a list of failures
of the resigned government. Adlesic wonders why four key portfolios
(Finance, Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs) are now in the
hands of just one party - the SDP.
On the other hand, Luka Trconic of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS)
bench, believes that early elections would not be useful to the
country. Elections would result in more or less the same division of
power however, the country would be unstable during the polls and
all projects would be halted, Trconic claimed.
The new government was supported on behalf of the SDP (Social
Democrat Party) by Mato Arlovic.
The programme was particularly praised for its export incentives,
changes in relations towards science and culture and reform in the
judiciary. Arlovic regretted however, that the government did not
re-organise and decrease the number of ministries.
Ivo Skrabalo of the Independent Liberals bench announced their
support for the government and in this way wishes to return the
confidence of voters who on January 3, 2000, voted for changes.
We are aware that our citizens expected more. Nevertheless we are
convinced that Croatia today is not the same as it was two and a half
years ago, Skrabalo said. He described the new government's
programme as ambitious but realistic and feasible.
The new government is destined for success, Zlatko Kramaric of the
Liberal Party (LS) bench claimed stressing that the government
needs to succeed as soon as possible.
The Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) supports the new government.
It will support what is good and criticise what this party disagree
with, Damir Kajin said.
He pointed out that the new cabinet should not bargain and
particularly not with the HDZ, not over the bill on national
minority rights, or over the cooperation with the UN war crimes
tribunal in The Hague etc. He also emphasised that the new Minister
of Defence should be careful not to make any mistakes when
proclaiming staff as redundant.
The government will be supported by Milan Djukic (national minority
bench). On behalf of the Serbian community in Croatia, I start from
the fact that every task needs to be given a chance, even if mistakes
are made, he said.
Djukic expressed criticism over the work of the resigned
government, huge backlogs in the judiciary, a difficult situation
in areas of special state concern, and objected the previous
government's treatment of minorities which, he claims, was
discriminatory towards Serb nationals.
(hina) sp ms