RACAN AND BUDISA SATISFIED WITH ELECTION RESULTS

ZAGREB, Jan 4 (Hina) - Leaders of the Social Democratic Party/Croatian Social Liberal Party (SDP/HSLS) coalition did not hide their satisfaction early on Tuesday morning, following the announcement of preliminary and unofficial election results, according to which the coalition is in the lead in most constituencies. "According to the current situation, we have achieved a result which is better the one predicted by numerous opinion polls," SDP president Ivica Racan told numerous reporters gathered at SDP offices. "This only proves that citizens wanted changes and that they have recognised the force that can make those changes happen," he added. HSLS president Drazen Budisa said the election result proved the forming of the coalition had been the right political move. He reiterated the coalition's three goals - enabling the country to overcome the economic, social and moral crisis it was in, removing problems in building democracy and enabling the country to overcome its international isolation. Budisa said he now expected the presidential election with even more optimism, adding he believed he could win it in the first round already. Racan, who is the coalition's candidate for the future premier, said he expected the Opposition Six to have close to two thirds of seats in the parliament, but he did not believe this was the most important issue at the moment. The coalition will seek a consensus in the Sabor in order to change the Constitution and reduce the powers of the President of the Republic and introduce a parliamentary system. "We are not for forming a coalition with the HDZ, but we are for cooperation as regards the key issues," he added. Racan believes the new composition of the House of Representatives could be formed in a week or two and that all bodies of authority could start functioning as early as February. The SDP president reiterated that the new government would be formed by all Opposition Six parties, in line with election results and the agreement they had signed. Racan called on the HDZ to contribute to building democracy in Croatia and hand over authority peacefully, adding statements given by some HDZ leaders tonight supported his invitation. Covering the announcement of the preliminary and unofficial results at the SDP offices were some 100 domestic and foreign reporters, photographers, and TV teams. (hina) rml