ZAGREB, Oct 30 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said Monday he was not concerned with the polemics being led via media between people from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), both
within the ruling six-party coalition, connected with the passing of constitutional amendments. In this polemic "I see no new, important element harming the ruling coalition and the coalition government within in," Racan told reporters at the first monthly session at the Government building. Racan refused to comment on individual statements, holding that discussions and differences of opinion were an integral part of a democratic Croatia. He said he had discussed the issue with HSLS president Drazen Budisa and quoted him as saying "where there are no fights there is no love". The statements of some prominent representatives of the two parties provided a field day for the media. Should
ZAGREB, Oct 30 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said
Monday he was not concerned with the polemics being led via media
between people from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Croatian
Social Liberal Party (HSLS), both within the ruling six-party
coalition, connected with the passing of constitutional
amendments.
In this polemic "I see no new, important element harming the ruling
coalition and the coalition government within in," Racan told
reporters at the first monthly session at the Government building.
Racan refused to comment on individual statements, holding that
discussions and differences of opinion were an integral part of a
democratic Croatia.
He said he had discussed the issue with HSLS president Drazen Budisa
and quoted him as saying "where there are no fights there is no
love".
The statements of some prominent representatives of the two parties
provided a field day for the media.
Should the amendments to the Constitution be refused,
extraordinary elections will be called, SDP's Mato Arlovic said.
HSLS's Josko Kontic claimed the coalition government was surviving
exclusively thanks to the leniency of this party.
The HSLS was opposed to the introduction of a new provision into the
Constitution by which the President of the Republic could dissolve
the Parliament with the co-signature of the Prime Minister.
The party demanded that the conditions under which such a solution
was to be applied should be strictly defined.
The media have speculated that the HSLS feared a possible alliance
between President Mesic and Prime Minister Racan (SDP), in which
SDP's coalition partner (HSLS) could be left with the short end of
the stick.
On the other hand the SDP is opposing, and HSLS advocating, the idea
that the Constitution includes a provision by which a fifth of
parliamentary bodies could suggest the appointment of a new
government and prime minister.
The media also said the SDP feared that this would create a
possibility of a change of government without elections, in case of
a regrouping of formed within the Parliament and the creation of new
coalitions.
(hina) lml jn