HSLS - CRO CONSULATE IN MUNICH ACTED UNLAWFULLY

ZAGREB, Dec 1 (Hina) - The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) on Wednesday issued a statement saying it had received a memo from the Croatian General Consul in Munich, Ivan Simek, calling on the party to suggest candidates for electoral committees by December 8 at the latest, under the condition that the HSLS was registered as a political party in the Consulate's jurisdiction. The HSLS holds that the Croatian General Consulate in Munich had acted in opposition to the Law on Elections of MPs into the Croatian National Parliament, and thus asks the Constitutional Court to provide the party with legal protection, the statement said. The HSLS claims that the Croatian General Consulate in Munich had acted unlawfully, as the party has the right to appoint members into individual electoral committees, and this right cannot be made conditional upon registration in the area of the consulate's jurisdiction. The Party is requesting of the Constitutional Court to, in controlling the constitutionality and lawfulness of elections, take appropriate measures against the General Consulate in Munich, the statement said. The General Consulate has usurped the original authority of the State Electoral Committee to appoint members of the electoral committee, the statement, signed by the party's secretary-general, Jozo Rados, said. (hina) lml