ZAGREB, Aug 22 (Hina) - "There will be no government reshuffle," Globus weekly quotes Prime Minister Ivica Racan in its latest issue, which hit the news-stands on Wednesday. "Rumours about a reshuffle are entirely incorrect," Globus
quotes Racan in the editorial of Damir Butkovic, who says he had spoken to the premier at the end of last week "in a long, unofficial conversation." "It has to be understood there are no political conditions for a serious government reshuffle," said Racan. According to Butkovic, the prime minister said he did not want to undermine the ruling coalition's current relative stability by replacing one or two poor ministers. "I have to work within frameworks that guarantee political stability for Croatia," Racan said. "If I were certain those who replaced them would be better, perhaps I would venture into it. But I'm afraid I would get worse people." Quoting sources at the government, some media said
ZAGREB, Aug 22 (Hina) - "There will be no government reshuffle,"
Globus weekly quotes Prime Minister Ivica Racan in its latest
issue, which hit the news-stands on Wednesday.
"Rumours about a reshuffle are entirely incorrect," Globus quotes
Racan in the editorial of Damir Butkovic, who says he had spoken to
the premier at the end of last week "in a long, unofficial
conversation."
"It has to be understood there are no political conditions for a
serious government reshuffle," said Racan.
According to Butkovic, the prime minister said he did not want to
undermine the ruling coalition's current relative stability by
replacing one or two poor ministers.
"I have to work within frameworks that guarantee political
stability for Croatia," Racan said. "If I were certain those who
replaced them would be better, perhaps I would venture into it. But
I'm afraid I would get worse people."
Quoting sources at the government, some media said today that minor
changes could nonetheless take place at the government come autumn.
Racan might refuse the resignations of three ministers from the
Social Liberals (HSLS), one of the ruling five parties, who
resigned early in July, which does not necessarily mean none will be
replaced, some media say.
The PM has already rejected the resignation of his deputy Goran
Granic, who was unhappy with his party's (HSLS) attitude towards
the government. Racan has still not taken a stance as to the
resignations of Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic, Science Minister
Hrvoje Kraljevic, and Defence Minister Jozo Rados.
The three resigned following a HSLS instruction that they vote
against a government decision on the extradition of two Croatian
generals to the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague.
In July parliament supported the government in connection with
cooperation with the tribunal, giving it a vote of confidence at
Racan's motion.
In the autumn, however, Racan could find himself in an absurd
situation if the HSLS ousts Alojz Tusek, the minister of maritime
affairs, transport and communications, which has recently been
requested by the party branch from Split.
In that case, to preserve the peace with the HSLS, his chief
coalition partner, Racan will probably have to sacrifice Tusek,
even though the latter supported him in the voting about the
government's stance regarding requests from the Hague tribunal.
In September Racan will have to find the new justice and European
integration ministers. The first resigned out of health and the
other for political reasons, namely the stepping out of the Istrian
Democratic Assembly (IDS) from the ruling coalition.
(hina) ha sb