ZAGREB, Nov 26 (Hina) - Leaders of opposition parties in the Opposition Six alliance on Friday night assessed a decision of the ruling party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), to suggest the January 3, 2000, as the date for the
parliamentary elections as absolutely unacceptable. Opposition leaders believe such date would be an attempt to avoid a normal pre-election campaign. The President of the Social and Democratic Party (SDP), Ivica Racan, told Hina on Friday night that the HDZ had had two options: to ensure free and fair elections and a normal pre-election campaign or to bring all this in question. "Unfortunately the HDZ opted to the detriment of Croatia and democratic elections, as it is logical that there is no normal campaign if the ballot is scheduled immediately after the holidays," the SDP President said assessing that in this way the HDZ came in conflict with Croatia's c
ZAGREB, Nov 26 (Hina) - Leaders of opposition parties in the
Opposition Six alliance on Friday night assessed a decision of the
ruling party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), to suggest the
January 3, 2000, as the date for the parliamentary elections as
absolutely unacceptable. Opposition leaders believe such date
would be an attempt to avoid a normal pre-election campaign.
The President of the Social and Democratic Party (SDP), Ivica
Racan, told Hina on Friday night that the HDZ had had two options: to
ensure free and fair elections and a normal pre-election campaign
or to bring all this in question.
"Unfortunately the HDZ opted to the detriment of Croatia and
democratic elections, as it is logical that there is no normal
campaign if the ballot is scheduled immediately after the
holidays," the SDP President said assessing that in this way the HDZ
came in conflict with Croatia's citizens.
Racan announced that the Opposition Six would define its precise
stand on the matter on Saturday.
Asked to comment on a statement of the HDZ secretary-general, Drago
Krpina who saw no reason for "spending time any longer for talks
with the Opposition Six on the agreement on the date of the
election," Racan declined to say anything about such statement.
The Croatian Social and Liberal Party's (HSLS) spokeswoman,
Djurdja Adlesic, described the HDZ suggestion as a badly chosen
date which shows that the HDZ is in hurry. To build its political
campaign on emotions toward the first Croatian President is, she
thinks, beyond all limits of good taste and this brings the
President's dignity into question.
This date shows clearly that the HDZ is planning to avoid a regular
manner of pursuing pre-election campaign, as the forthcoming
holidays benumb the campaign, she added.
Commenting on Krpina's statement she described it as yet another
clumsy and unconvincing statement, as the proposal of the
Opposition Six was clear: to schedule the ballot in the second half
of January so that normal campaign can be led and European observers
can attend the voting. The date, January 3, also disguises the
intention to avoid the monitoring of the election.
The HDZ will try to hide, behind emotions linked with President
Tudjman, all errors of its bad economic policy, Adlesic added.
The President of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Zlatko Tomcic,
asserted that it was quite evident that the HDZ seriously counted on
its discretionary right to decide on the date of the election. "We
have suspected that they will choose either 28 December or 3
January, and unfortunately this has come true, "Tomcic said adding
such a date shows imprudence and a complete lack of the sense of the
HDZ for the necessity to hold the election in a tolerant and
democratic atmosphere.
They opted for a variant in which there will be no pre-election
campaign," the HSS leader stressed.
The President of the Liberal Party (LS), Vlado Gotovac, said one
could expect that the HDZ would exploit big words for its pre-
election purpose. The choice of the election date reflects expected
impudence, Gotovac said.
For the LS this date is totally unacceptable, as it counts on a
national hangover which should help, according to its fuzzy
atmosphere, the HDZ to accomplish better election results, Gotovac
explained.
Krpina's statement on the spending no more time in talks with the
opposition is, for Gotovac, "usual impertinence typical of people
who never render accounts of their conduct."
Commenting on the suggested date, the President of the Istrian
Democratic Alliance (IDS), Ivan Jakovcic, said he could know no one
in his right mind to be able to make such a decision.
For him, this presents also the encroachment on the family life.
"Such disrespect for the privacy and dignity even for free time is
yet another confirmation that the HDZ has no sense for genuine human
values of modern man," the IDS leader said.
He predicted that this attempt of the HDZ to thwart the opposition's
campaign will be futile.
Jakovcic said Krpina's statement once again "confirms that the HDZ
has never had intentions to reach consensus with the opposition in
any negotiations."
(hina) ms