RULING COALITION TO DEBATE RESHUFFLING OF COALITION, GOVT. IN MAY

ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - The ruling coalition's six parties reached an agreement on Tuesday they would discuss the performance of the coalition and the government and the possibility of reshuffling immediately after local elections in May. "We have concluded this issue has to be discussed," Prime Minister Ivica Racan told a news conference after today's meeting, which was not attended by representatives of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS). Racan did not want to comment in his function as prime minister on statements by coalition partners to the effect that the ruling coalition should be different, namely that it should have less parties. Speaking, however, as the president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Racan said the coalition's strongest party wanted a good and stable coalition. "The possible reshuffling of the government requires the reshuffling of the coalition," he said. The coalition's parties are willing to assume a positive approach in campaigns for upcoming local elections, without mutual disputes and attacks, except about local issues, said Racan. They are also willing to cooperate on the local level before and after the elections, he added, recalling the six parties had bound local party leaderships to deal with such issues. Besides the IDS, the ruling coalition comprises the Social Democratic Party, the Croatian Social Liberal Party, the Croatian People's Party, the Croatian Peasant Party, and the Liberal Party. (hina) ha