PREGRADA, Bezanec Castle, July 16 (Hina) - A seminar on the role of coalitions in pre-election campaigning started with a working meeting at Bezanec Castle, northern Croatia, on Friday morning. The event, which was organised by the US
non-government organisation International Republican Institute (IRI) and which will end tomorrow, gathered representatives of the Opposition Six -the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Croatian Social-Liberal Party (HSLS), Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Croatian people's Party (HNS), Liberal Party (LS) and the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS). Participants in the seminar today heard lectures on how to form successful coalitions and on the coalition experience of parties in Slovakia and Bulgaria. The event will also include a round table discussion on the possibilities of forming pre-election coalitions in Croatia, the advantages and disadvantages of the Oppositio
PREGRADA, Bezanec Castle, July 16 (Hina) - A seminar on the role of
coalitions in pre-election campaigning started with a working
meeting at Bezanec Castle, northern Croatia, on Friday morning.
The event, which was organised by the US non-government
organisation International Republican Institute (IRI) and which
will end tomorrow, gathered representatives of the Opposition Six -
the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Croatian Social-Liberal Party
(HSLS), Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Croatian people's Party
(HNS), Liberal Party (LS) and the Istrian Democratic Assembly
(IDS).
Participants in the seminar today heard lectures on how to form
successful coalitions and on the coalition experience of parties in
Slovakia and Bulgaria.
The event will also include a round table discussion on the
possibilities of forming pre-election coalitions in Croatia, the
advantages and disadvantages of the Opposition and on what can be
learned from the last parliamentary elections in Slovakia and
Bulgaria, where pre-election coalitions were successful.
Speakers at the seminar are a Slovak MP Milan Hort, the main
secretary of the Slovak Democratic Coalition, Marek Revilak, the
director of IRI's central-European regional programme, Lindsay
Lloyd and Bulgaria's expert on election processes, Dimitar
Dimitrov.
Representatives of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) are
not attending the seminar. In yesterday's letter to IRI director
for Croatia, Ellen Yount, HDZ main secretary Drago Krpina expressed
surprise that the HDZ, as the largest political party in Croatia,
had not been invited to the meeting. Speaking about the reasons why
HDZ representatives had not been invited and which she explained in
a reply to Krpina, Yount told Voice of America that, according to
her information, the HDZ had not expressed interest in
participating in pre-election coalitions, and was therefore not
invited. However, she invited Krpina to a meeting to discuss IRI's
programme and chances of future dialogue.
The seminar is held behind closed doors. During a break on Friday,
representatives of the Opposition Six parties presented their
stands on the meeting.
HSLS main secretary Jozo Rados said the meeting was common relaying
of experience with emphasis on the establishment of coalitions.
Similar seminars are frequently held in other countries and they do
not attract so much media attention as is the case in Croatia, Rados
said, adding increased media attention was the result of the ruling
party's anxiety.
Asked about claims in the press that the IRI was allegedly
suggesting a coalition between the HSLS and the SDP, Rados
dismissed the claims saying it was out of the question. There have
been no pressures or suggestions regarding any specific linking, he
said.
The head of the SDP parliamentary bench at the House of Counties,
Ratko Maricic, also dismissed the claims.
HSS main secretary Stanko Grcic said the seminar would be useful to
all parties.
According to HNS executive vice-president Stipe Mesic, the seminar
gathered democratic parties with different orientation but also
with a lot in common.
An LS presidency member Tereza Ganza Aras said she did not expect
anything spectacular from the meeting, adding the ruling circles
feared the Opposition Six could apply the Slovak coalition model.
IDS main secretary Emil Soldatic said the seminar was part of the
party's everyday activities, which the IDS would use in
contributing to the further democratisation of society.
(hina) rml