'OPPOSITION PRESSES, HDZ BACKS DOWN', ZAGREB DAILY COMMENTS

ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - A 'sudden' early return of Croatian Parliament Chairman Nedjeljko Mihanovic from his visit to the U.S.A, in order to chair a session of the House of Representatives, gave rise to today's commentary in the Croatian daily "Vjesnik" by a Croatian journalist Aleksa Crnjakovic. The headline of the commentary is "Opposition presses, Croatian Democratic Union backs down". Mihanovic's return ensued, said Crnjakovic, after a vice chairman of the House of Representatives, Vladimir Seks, refused to give permission to Goran Granic, the newly elected first vice chairman, to preside over the session. Seks explained his decision by saying that the decision on the Granic's election was not published in the official papers "Narodne Novine". The opposition replied that chairman Mihanovic started with his duty right after he had been elected, without waiting for it to be published in "Narodne Novine". As the ruling party turned a deaf ear to the voice of opposition, the parliamentary opposition parties left the House of Representatives building, after which a most expensive solution was found "let the chairman return". Journalist Crnjakovic estimated that the political situation was getting complicated and that top Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentarians were not holding everything under control. HDZ representatives were undisciplined, they were not attending sessions, which reflected on the voting process, said the journalist. She considers the current situation dangerous because it could lead to early elections, which "would not be favourable in times Croatia was fighting for its maturity and when all strength should be directed, first of all, to the implementation of the economic program. "If the members of the ruling (HDZ) party attended sessions more regularly, then the parliamentary leadership could, from time to time, let Goran Granic chair sessions. That is why, from now on, HDZ is going to be responsible for anything that happens in the House of Representatives", she said. (hina) jn rm mms 281232 MET mar 95