ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) will not accept the rough electoral campaign imposed by the Opposition, but will continue to carry out regular party and electoral tasks, HDZ senior officials said on
Friday following claims made by six Croatian opposition parties on Thursday. The 'Opposition Six' accused the HDZ of radical political actions aimed at suspending democracy. They called on Croatian citizens to join them in initiating changes. The six parties also announced a number of rallies. HDZ spokesman Ivica Ropus said the party did not accept the election campaign as imposed by opposition parties, which is everything but civilised, libellous by content, radical and incident-prone by policy, and has a goal of creating a pre-revolutionary atmosphere. HDZ vice-president Ivic Pasalic advocated sensibility and tolerance, stressing that solutions for existing problems should be fou
ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)
will not accept the rough electoral campaign imposed by the
Opposition, but will continue to carry out regular party and
electoral tasks, HDZ senior officials said on Friday following
claims made by six Croatian opposition parties on Thursday.
The 'Opposition Six' accused the HDZ of radical political actions
aimed at suspending democracy. They called on Croatian citizens to
join them in initiating changes. The six parties also announced a
number of rallies.
HDZ spokesman Ivica Ropus said the party did not accept the election
campaign as imposed by opposition parties, which is everything but
civilised, libellous by content, radical and incident-prone by
policy, and has a goal of creating a pre-revolutionary atmosphere.
HDZ vice-president Ivic Pasalic advocated sensibility and
tolerance, stressing that solutions for existing problems should
be found.
He stressed the party's readiness to talk with all parties and
prominent individuals with the aim of finding solutions to all
outstanding issues.
Speaking about the statements made by the 'Opposition Six', Ropus
said it was a combination of revolutionary and populist methods in
order to provoke the Government into resorting to repressive
methods in breaking this organised spontaneity.
"This would back the expectations and announcements of some leaders
of the Opposition Six who have for a long time been wishing for the
scenario of violence to be realised. As far as the HDZ is concerned,
such violence will not occur," Ropus said.
He added the party would not present an obstacle to local rallies
announced by the six opposition parties.
Ivic Pasalic said he held Thursday's claims by the Opposition Six
were a very serious issue, which is their wish for the political
scene to be bipolarised and radicalised.
"These are stances used to threaten and evade any kind of dialogue,"
Pasalic said.
It is far better to have political issued resolved in the
Parliament, and not in the street, he added.
Commenting on statements by Radimir Cacic that a "pro-Ustasha
current prevails in the HDZ", Pasalic asked what were the goals of
those who wished to return Croatia to the times of divisions.
Ropus stressed the problem of opposition parties lay only in the
fact that they must fulfil the promises they gave to Croatian
voters. In order for Croatian voters to believe them, they must
primarily know that the Opposition wanted and how they will realise
that, Ropus said.
This means the Opposition must answer by what tempo salaries would
increase once they come into power, how much pensions would
increase, how much unemployment would decrease and which Euro-
Atlantic associations would accept Croatia once they come into
power.
Ropus added Branko Salaj (Hina's director), Mirko Galic (a member
of the Croatian Television management board) and others mentioned
by the Opposition Six had not handed in their resignations due to
the will of the HDZ, but by their own will "probably counting on the
fact that time has come for political regrouping".
(hina) lml jn