BUDISA PROBABLE HSLS AND SDP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

ZAGREB, Dec 14 (Hina) - The coalition of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) will probably put forward Drazen Budisa, HSLS president, as presidential candidate at upcoming elections. "The SDP and HSLS will have one candidate," SDP president Ivica Racan said. He added that, as it appeared, the Opposition would have more candidates at the presidential elections. "Budisa will have my support," Racan told a news conference Tuesday, marking the beginning of the coalition electoral campaign for parliamentary elections scheduled for January. HSLS president Drazen Budisa held as realistic the supposition that parties of the Opposition Six would put forward at least two candidates, not a joint candidate. He added, however, that talks within the six opposition parties about the issue had not been completed. The Istrian Democratic Assembly has announced it would not support Budisa's candidacy, the Croatian peasants' Party said it would issue its motion, the Croatian People's Party said it would put forward Vesna Pusic as a candidate and the Liberal Party said they saw party president Vlado Gotovac as a presidential candidate. (hina) lml