ZAGREB'S ALTERNATIVE' SIGN AGREEMENT ZAGREB, April 7 (Hina) - Leaders of political parties gathered in a coalition called "Zagreb's Alternative" - SDP, HSLS, LS, HSS, ASH and HSU - on Friday signed an official agreement on their
cooperation in the run-up to the May 7 local election and their post-election coalition in the City of Zagreb. The document was signed in compliance with their joint agreement of November 1998 and criteria they established a month prior the coming polls for the City Assembly. The deal is also about the distribution of 12 electoral units. Out of seven parties which used to make up the Alternative, only the Croatian People's Party (HNS) has left it and decided to run in the election independently. Under Friday's agreement, where the first-past-the-post system is applied, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) will put their candidates in six constituencies, the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) will put its ca
ZAGREB, April 7 (Hina) - Leaders of political parties gathered in a
coalition called "Zagreb's Alternative" - SDP, HSLS, LS, HSS, ASH
and HSU - on Friday signed an official agreement on their
cooperation in the run-up to the May 7 local election and their
post-election coalition in the City of Zagreb.
The document was signed in compliance with their joint agreement of
November 1998 and criteria they established a month prior the
coming polls for the City Assembly.
The deal is also about the distribution of 12 electoral units.
Out of seven parties which used to make up the Alternative, only the
Croatian People's Party (HNS) has left it and decided to run in the
election independently.
Under Friday's agreement, where the first-past-the-post system is
applied, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) will put their
candidates in six constituencies, the Croatian Social Liberal
Party (HSLS) will put its candidates in three constituencies, the
Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) in two, while the Liberal Party (LS)
will put its candidate in one electoral unit.
For the proportional representation, the parties have the right to
stand the election independently or in smaller or greater
coalitions.
The Alternative's parties confirmed their decision not to run in
the election in coalition with the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)
or any party set up following the split inside the HDZ.
"Today's agreement is the victory of Zagreb citizens and not a
political ambition," said the SDP local leader, Milan Bandic,
claiming that the Alternative would prove it by its unity which is,
according to Bandic, a guarantee for stable, responsible and fair
management over Zagreb.
He predicted the victory of the Alternative's lists in all 12
constituencies when the first-past-the-post system is applied.
If the Alternative gets the polls, its parties will constitute a
coalition government.
(hina) mm ms