ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - The Croatian Social-Democrat Party (SDP) held that Jozo Rados's election as Zagreb Mayor could be crucial in settling Zagreb's political crisis. The seven-party alliance had contributed most to this process.
'Whether the crisis will be settled in a democrat fashion depends again on the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and President Tudjman', SDP leader Ivica Racan told a press conference on Thursday.
ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - The Croatian Social-Democrat Party (SDP)
held that Jozo Rados's election as Zagreb Mayor could be crucial
in settling Zagreb's political crisis. The seven-party alliance had
contributed most to this process. 'Whether the crisis will be
settled in a democrat fashion depends again on the Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ) and President Tudjman', SDP leader Ivica
Racan told a press conference on Thursday. #L#
Racan stressed that, despite certain problems, the Opposition
had prevented signs of the possible disintegration of the alliance
by adopting unified attitudes as well as by coming up with best
solutions. He added that SDP councilors had also contributed to the
solution with their constructive attitude towards interparty
agreements. Thus, the recent articles that spoke negatively of
Racan and Zdravko Tomac "have no foundation". "On the contrary, by
acting in its recent political fashion, the Croatian Democratic
Union (HDZ) got itself into a situation where it will have to
choose between democracy and the refusal of Rados as Zagreb Mayor,
like it did with Goran Granic", Racan said.
Answering to 'accusations and attempts aimed at discrediting'
his party, Zagreb City Assembly President Zdravko Tomac said that
"it is exactly the SDP that toppled Communism in Croatia". He added
that there was less Bolshevik mentality in the SDP than in some
other parties. That was why the SDP would continue to work without
compromise for a social-democrat alternative which would protect
working people and all Croatian citizens. It would fight tendencies
aimed at restoring a system where the country is run by one man and
one party", said Tomac.
The Government had to decide whether it would accept the
clearly expressed will of the citizens or continue to support
Branko Miksa, Tomac said, calling Miksa "the former-former Mayor".
When asked if he would resign from his post of the head of the
City Assembly in case President Tudjman refused to confirm Rados's
election, Tomac said that, in case that happened, the Assembly
would refuse the Government candidate for the post of Zagreb Mayor.
After that, the Government would have to appoint a
commissioner and call a new election within 60 days, he added.
"The law would be obeyed in this way", Tomac said, adding that
otherwise the HDZ would cast doubts on the constitution of the
executive authority, as was the case with Rijeka. He stressed that
this was the very reason why the opposition had not adopted radical
attitudes and dissolved the Assembly, since that would make the
situation for HDZ easier. In that case, the Opposition would lose
the power of political struggle and let down people who had voted
for it.
(hina) lm jn
251751 MET jan 96