IF GOVT FAILS TO MAKE PROGRESS, PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IS AT DOOR - TOMCIC

ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - If by this autumn the government fails to provide a guarantee that it has made real progress as regards living standards, economy and employment, a parliamentary election is at the door, Croatian Parliament Speaker Zlatko Tomcic said at a student panel in Zagreb on Tuesday evening. If there is no progress in economy and in reducing unemployment, we can get packed or, to use a soccer term, hang up our spikes, Tomcic told students. There will be no government reshuffle before the local election but the ruling six-party coalition will start discussion on that matter after the election. Once the elections are over, in late May, Prime Minister Ivica Racan will propose a government reshuffle, Tomcic added. Asked which ministers he would replace if he were the Prime Minister, Tomcic said he could give five or six names but none of them were from (his) Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS). He refused to identify the ministers. Tomcic admitted that the coalition has not made any radical changes although the public had expected it to do. The coalition has given in to accusations that it was seeking revenge and therefore failed to replace senior officials in public services, he said. Another mistake was the first changing of the Constitution, which was not completed, so the coalition had to initiate new constitutional changes only four months later, Tomcic said. (hina) rml