FINAL DECISION ON ELECTION DATE AFTER DISSOLVING OF LOWER HOUSE

ZAGREB, Oct 22 (Hina) - A session of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) National Council held on Thursday at which it was announced that elections for the Croatian National Parliament House of Representatives would be held on December 22, unofficially marked the beginning of the electoral campaign, HDZ spokesman Ivica Ropus told a news conference Friday. Stressing it was the autonomous right of the President of the Republic to set the date of elections, Ropus said Tudjman had taken into consideration the recommendations of the international community, Church and the mood of the public. The final decision on the date of elections could be made on November 15, that is, after the end of the mandate of the current House of representatives, which is expected to be dissolved on November 10, Ropus said. He announced that the electoral programme of the party would be represented at the session of the main Committee in the middle or second half of November, and that Tudjman would head the HDZ lists of candidates. The HDZ dismissed Thursday's statements made by opposition leaders who created an impression that the entire world was against the suggested date of elections. Ropus said any date would for some reason be unacceptable for the opposition, and so the HDZ is not especially concerned with reactions of opposition leaders. He said that those who had never before celebrated Christmas have now become pious about days before Christmas. Ropus said that, as he personally understood, the Catholic Church would not agree with the scheduling of elections in the time between Christmas and New Year, which is not the case. He expressed satisfaction with the statement made by Archbishop Bozanic that it was good for the public to know now the date of the elections. (hina) lml jn