ZAGREB, Jan 19 (Hina) - Ivica Racan will be appointed Croatia's new premier on January 27, Sabor President and Acting Head of State Vlatko Pavletic told reporters in Zagreb on Wednesday. Pavletic also said he could appoint the whole
government on January 27 if Racan submitted a list with the names of government members by that date.
ZAGREB, Jan 19 (Hina) - Ivica Racan will be appointed Croatia's new
premier on January 27, Sabor President and Acting Head of State
Vlatko Pavletic told reporters in Zagreb on Wednesday.
Pavletic also said he could appoint the whole government on January
27 if Racan submitted a list with the names of government members by
that date. #L#
Following today's meeting with Racan and Vladimir Seks, the acting
head of the leading opposition party - Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ), Pavletic said the Sabor would be constituted on Wednesday,
February 2, and not on February 1 as had been announced earlier.
The appointment of the new premier can be performed earlier, should
there be no complaints to the Constitutional Court regarding the
course of the parliamentary election. In that case, Racan could
become the new premier on Saturday, January 22, Pavletic said.
The president of the Croatian Peasants' Popular Party (HSNS), Josko
Kovac, has announced the possibility of filing a complaint to the
Constitutional Court because he believes that he was cheated in the
elections.
Racan today confirmed that the Sabor would most probably confirm
the new government on February 9, when he would also present the
government programme.
Pavletic, Racan and Seks positively described the meeting, which
lasted more than two hours.
Racan said it was optimal that the Government and the House of
Representatives would be constituted within less than one month
from the parliamentary election. He reaffirmed the main goal was to
successfully complete the transfer of authority and start solving
problems in the country.
Racan also confirmed that he already had scheduled international
meetings to start soon after the constituting of the government,
however he declined to comment on them.
According to some sources, Racan could in February start a European
tour to include Rome, Paris, London, Brussels, Berlin and
Budapest.
Racan said he would meet the Opposition next week to discuss the
composition of the Sabor Presidency and distribution of other
parliamentary duties. He reiterated the basic criterion would be
the number of parliamentary seats won.
Pavletic said that on Monday, January 31, he would announce what the
parliamentary majority and the HDZ had agreed. It is also possible
that the names of candidates for the Sabor President and vice-
presidents will be announced on the same day.
(hina) rml