ZAGREB, Sept 21 (Hina) - Representatives of Croatia's opposition parties, bar the Croatian Party of Rights, on Tuesday strongly criticised a Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) official's claim that the ruling party was considering the
possibility of introducing the postal vote and abandoning the non-fixed quota for the election of MPs from a list intended for the Diaspora.
ZAGREB, Sept 21 (Hina) - Representatives of Croatia's opposition
parties, bar the Croatian Party of Rights, on Tuesday strongly
criticised a Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) official's claim that
the ruling party was considering the possibility of introducing the
postal vote and abandoning the non-fixed quota for the election of
MPs from a list intended for the Diaspora.#L#
HDZ's Vladimir Seks on Monday told reporters in Zagreb the ruling
party would stick to the solution according to which Croatian
citizens residing outside Croatia were entitled to 12 MPs.
Drazen Budisa of the Croatian Social Liberal Party believes Seks'
statement is a tactical move. The HDZ is aware an electoral law with
12 MPs for the Diaspora cannot be passed without serious
repercussions for Croatia, given that a different mode of voting
for the Diaspora was one of the conditions for Croatia's access to
the Council of Europe in the first place, he said.
If HDZ's announcement proves to be serious, the Opposition Six
party group will react accordingly, Budisa said, but declined to
comment on what it would do.
"It is unfair in view of the obligations Croatia took upon entering
the Council of Europe, and especially unfair to Croatian citizens
who pay taxes here and starve on meagre salaries and pensions," said
Bozo Kovacevic of the Liberal Party.
He reminded that Croatia signed 21 obligations upon admission to
the Council of Europe, including a reform of electoral legislation.
The key remark referred to the fixed quota of MPs representing the
Diaspora.
Marin Jurjevic of the Social Democratic Party believes the ruling
HDZ is in the grips of panic after realising it must step below the
minimum of fairness to ensure passable representation in the House
of Representatives.
According to Croatian Peasants' Party's Luka Trconic, the HDZ would
go against the will of the majority of citizens. He added that to do
so "prior to elections is suicidal."
Radimir Cacic of the Croatian People's Party also pointed out the
HDZ solution was unacceptable.
Representatives of Croatia's Opposition Six strongly criticised
the possibility that the new electoral law include a provision on
the postal vote.
According to Jurjevic, this would bring into question the basic
democratic principle on the secrecy of the vote, as well as provide
room for manipulation.
Contrary to other opposition representatives, Anto Djapic of the
Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) welcomed HDZ's announced about-turn
which, he claims, follows in the footsteps of an electoral law
proposed by the HSP. According to Djapic, the turn-about comes as no
surprise given, he said, the opposition's exaggerated demands.
Djapic added the announced solutions could also be a bluff on the
ruling party's part to make the opposition agree to the electoral
bill.
(hina) ha jn