ZAGREB, May 3 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Monday spoke about the electoral model with the president of the Social Democratic Party, Ivica Racan, and party bench leader Mato Arlovic. The meeting was also attended by
Croatian Democratic Union party bench leader Vladimir Seks In a statement to journalists, Racan evaluated the meeting as good and open compared to the previous meeting held. He expressed his belief that the meeting would result in positive measures. Asked if he had asked the President to call for an early election, Racan answered he had expressed his desire for the elections to be held as soon as possible given the overall current circumstances. Citing that he had heard the elections were to be held as scheduled, he expressed regret that they would not be held earlier. Seks said an agreement concerning the date of the elections would be possible following the releas
ZAGREB, May 3 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Monday
spoke about the electoral model with the president of the Social
Democratic Party, Ivica Racan, and party bench leader Mato
Arlovic.
The meeting was also attended by Croatian Democratic Union party
bench leader Vladimir Seks
In a statement to journalists, Racan evaluated the meeting as good
and open compared to the previous meeting held. He expressed his
belief that the meeting would result in positive measures.
Asked if he had asked the President to call for an early election,
Racan answered he had expressed his desire for the elections to be
held as soon as possible given the overall current circumstances.
Citing that he had heard the elections were to be held as scheduled,
he expressed regret that they would not be held earlier.
Seks said an agreement concerning the date of the elections would be
possible following the release of a harmonised jointly electoral
bill. He added the elections should be held some time between
Christmas and the New Year.
Seks and Racan assessed a consensus over the election law was
possible.
Noting that the most contentious issue was a special list for the
Diaspora, Racan said the proposal put forward by the opposition had
met with President Tudjman's support. The proposal put forward by
the Opposition Six was presented to the press by Croatian Social
Liberal Party's Drazen Budisa following his talks with President
Tudjman on Monday.
The proposal would ensure that Croatian citizens living outside of
Croatia could actively and passively participate in election
rights, i.e. to choose and be elected, but not from a separate list
or a separate election unit, said Racan.
Representatives from the Diaspora would, in keeping with the
proposal, by placed on party listings, and depending on the number
of votes gained on a party's list would be nominated by the party for
parliament.
We hope, said Racan, that this issue will be settled during further
negotiations between the HDZ and the opposition in parliament.
Racan stated that he spoke with the Croatian President about some
other issues vital to Croatia, particularly relations between
Croatia and Europe.
He considers that the democratic forces in Croatia have something
to say on this matter, particularly with regard to specifying
Croatia's strategic interests.
Racan announced he would be speaking on this matter on Wednesday
with Foreign Minister Mate Granic.
(hina) sp/ha jn