ZAGREB, Nov 19 (Hina) - The spokesman for the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) on Friday told reporters in Zagreb it was probable the President of the Republic would call the elections for parliament's House of Representatives,
and sign a temporary budget decision and other laws which the Lower House passed at the last session. This will put an end to speculation about a constitutional crisis and the date of the elections, said Ivica Ropus, and at journalists' insistence confirmed that President Franjo Tudjman was conscious.
ZAGREB, Nov 19 (Hina) - The spokesman for the ruling Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ) on Friday told reporters in Zagreb it was
probable the President of the Republic would call the elections for
parliament's House of Representatives, and sign a temporary budget
decision and other laws which the Lower House passed at the last
session.
This will put an end to speculation about a constitutional crisis
and the date of the elections, said Ivica Ropus, and at journalists'
insistence confirmed that President Franjo Tudjman was
conscious.#L#
Ropus said the elections would be postponed in case President
Tudjman were unable to sign the calling of the elections. He added
however the elections would be held within the constitutional
deadline, 27 January.
The HDZ spokesman asserted no constitutional crisis would occur in
case President Tudjman failed to ratify the temporary budget
decision. "No constitutional crisis will occur, the state bodies of
authority have been functioning in keeping with the law," he said.
As regards announcements of possible changes to the Constitution,
Ropus confirmed the existence of various initiatives, namely ideas
to avoid constitutional and legal uncertainty, among them an
initiative by a professor of Constitutional Right, Branko
Smerdel.
If necessary, the HDZ will give serious consideration to these
motions, Ropus said. Professor Smerdel suggested the passing of a
law on the temporary disability of the President of the Republic to
perform his duty.
Ropus said the HDZ had not yet taken a final, official position on
the possibility of adopting the said law, but added that in
considering the issue, emphasis would be placed on the dignity of
the institution and the person of the President of the Republic, and
on undisturbed functioning of authorities.
The said law is an organic one, not a change of the Constitution,
Ropus said, adding the law elaborates provisions on the
organisation, scope of activity and mode of work of state bodies of
authority, including the President of the Republic.
Such laws are passed by a majority of vote in the House of
Representatives after the House of Counties has taken its position,
Ropus explained. He announced that despite its majority, the HDZ
would try to reach an agreement on the matter with all competent
political parties of the opposition.
Speaking about a meeting the president of parliament was to hold
today with the presidents of parliamentary benches, Ropus said it
would probably focus on the possibility of convening another Lower
House session and its agenda, and the final definition of the
parliament president's status before a new one is elected.
Ropus refuted allegations that the HDZ was considering the election
of the party's first vice-president, and announced that the Head
Committee, Main Election Headquarters, and all bodies of the ruling
party would hold a meeting shortly after the elections were
called.
Ropus said the HDZ endorsed a statement the Croatian Bishops'
Conference and Archbishop of Zagreb Josip Bozanic issued after a
recent extraordinary session which tackled the impending
elections.
Asked if the Croatian public would be able to see via television
President Tudjman in the moment of calling the elections, the HDZ
spokesman said this most probably would not be possible, but that
the President would do so fully conscious. "These are things too
serious to be played with," he asserted.
Asked if presidential elections would also be called, Ropus said
that had not be discussed, and added he was sure it would not be
necessary because the President's condition was improving.
The press claimed that the statements from the President's team of
doctors were insufficient, to which Ropus said that the doctors'
team was not bound to explain in detail the President's condition,
and that the information contained in the statements was completely
correct and sufficient.
The HDZ spokesman disagreed with the journalists' claim that HDZ's
electoral glossary was not in line with the civilised pre-electoral
campaign the ruling party announced. Harsher qualification is
always possible in the campaign, he said.
(hina) ha jn