BUDISA SAYS MEETING WITH RACAN HELD IN GOOD ATMOSPHERE

ZAGREB, Oct 30 (Hina) - The leaders of the two strongest parties in Croatia's ruling coalition met on Monday evening in an attempt to clear up misunderstandings which arose after senior officials of both parties diverged in views as to the formulation of draft constitutional amendments. Talking to reporters after the three-hour meeting, HSLS' Drazen Budisa said the meeting had been successful and that he and Ivica Racan of SDP were optimistic in connection with finalising the passing of constitutional amendments. SDP (Social Democratic Party) and HSLS (Croatian Social Liberal Party) disagree about models for dissolving parliament and calling early elections. SDP would like the president of the republic to be given the possibility to dissolve parliament's House of Representatives and call early elections at the prime minister's proposal. HSLS advocates using the so called Slovenian Model, according to which a parliamentary crisis can be solved if one fifth of lower house MPs propose a new prime minister. Budisa told reporters the latter proposal was not HSLS' crucial stance, but that his party was not willing to depart from having the constitution state precisely all circumstances and conditions under which parliament can be dissolved. HSLS believes the new constitution should at least incorporate conditions present in the current one, he said. (hina) ha