ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament wrapped up its session on Wednesday evening with a debate on a proposal by opposition MPs that Public Works Minister be given a vote of no confidence. First Deputy Prime Minister Goran
Granic suggested in parliament this evening that the Opposition's proposal be rejected. Granic believes Cacic's statement which prompted the Opposition to urge a vote of no confidence was made in his capacity as president of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and not as government minister. The proposal of 34 opposition MPs will be voted on tomorrow, but it was clear after tonight's debate that Cacic enjoys the support of almost all parliamentary benches of the ruling coalition as well as of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS). The Social Liberals (HSLS) made their support conditional on Cacic's voicing his stand on the parliamentary Declaration on the 1990's Homeland War.
ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament wrapped up its
session on Wednesday evening with a debate on a proposal by
opposition MPs that Public Works Minister be given a vote of no
confidence.
First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic suggested in parliament
this evening that the Opposition's proposal be rejected. Granic
believes Cacic's statement which prompted the Opposition to urge a
vote of no confidence was made in his capacity as president of the
Croatian People's Party (HNS) and not as government minister.
The proposal of 34 opposition MPs will be voted on tomorrow, but it
was clear after tonight's debate that Cacic enjoys the support of
almost all parliamentary benches of the ruling coalition as well as
of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS).
The Social Liberals (HSLS) made their support conditional on
Cacic's voicing his stand on the parliamentary Declaration on the
1990's Homeland War. As Cacic subsequently clarified that he had no
intention of contesting the declaration, it is expected the HSLS,
too, will support him.
The vote of no confidence in Cacic was requested by representatives
of the Opposition's Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the Croatian
Party of Rights (HSP) and the Croatian Christian Democratic Union
(HKDU). The parties maintain that at a news conference on October 16
Cacic accused Croatia of having carried out an act of aggression on
Bosnia-Herzegovina. They claim Cacic did it while publicly
condemning a warning by the parliament speaker to HNS's Vesna
Pusic, thus approving her claim that Croatia had carried out an act
of aggression on Bosnia. By saying that the HDZ-government
conducted an aggressive policy towards Bosnia, Minister Cacic, the
MPs claim, has accused Croatia of an aggressive policy towards
Bosnia.
Cacic said tonight he had never claimed the Croatian state had
conducted an aggressive policy towards Bosnia, but the HDZ
authorities had.
It never entered my mind to contest the Declaration on the Homeland
War, Cacic said, adding HDZ deputies should not confuse the state
with their party. The Croatian state is a much wider concept than a
party, he added.
(hina) rml