ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - After the announcement of first unofficial preliminary results, the candidate of the SDP/HSLS coalition at the presidential election, Drazen Budisa, said he was optimistically looking forward the continuation
of the presidential campaign and the run-off ballot. "I think I shall defeat Mesic to the benefit of democratic prospects of Croatia, Croatia's people and all its citizens," said the candidate of the Social Democratic Party/Croatian Social Liberal Party (SDP/HSLS) coalition after he heard first comments of Stipe Mesic, the candidate of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and "Four" parties, who won most ballots in the first round of the vote. "Mesic has told the public that he actually does not support the Government of Ivica Racan, which is still not formed, and he has already spoken of the supervision and control over the parliament and the Government," Budisa add
ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - After the announcement of first unofficial
preliminary results, the candidate of the SDP/HSLS coalition at the
presidential election, Drazen Budisa, said he was optimistically
looking forward the continuation of the presidential campaign and
the run-off ballot.
"I think I shall defeat Mesic to the benefit of democratic prospects
of Croatia, Croatia's people and all its citizens," said the
candidate of the Social Democratic Party/Croatian Social Liberal
Party (SDP/HSLS) coalition after he heard first comments of Stipe
Mesic, the candidate of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and
"Four" parties, who won most ballots in the first round of the
vote.
"Mesic has told the public that he actually does not support the
Government of Ivica Racan, which is still not formed, and he has
already spoken of the supervision and control over the parliament
and the Government," Budisa added.
Budisa said Mesic incorrectly understood the function of the
President when speaking that he (President) must be an element to
control the Government. These words indicate that the political
position went beyond a platform adopted by the "Six" parties,
Budisa assessed.
The HSLS/SDP candidate said he would make no important step without
cooperation of the Sabor and the Government until changes of the
Constitution.
He announced that his campaign in the run-up to the second round of
the voting would be conducted according to the political programme
of the SDP/HSLS coalition.
Budisa viewed Mesic's message forwarded to those who criticised him
during the pre-election campaign as "worrisome almost as a
threat".
Contrary to Mesic I do not intend to threaten to anyone,
particularly not to reporters, Budisa said adding that he could
congratulate Mesic on the results he achieved in the first round of
the ballot (Mesic mustered about 42 percent of the vote) but could
not congratulate him on his first address of the public.
He proposed to Mesic to hold face-to-face debates in the run-up to
the second round of the presidential election in order to avoid big
costs.
(hina) ms