ZAGREB, Jan 8 (Hina) - Commenting on a decision by Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic (of the Social Democratic Party, SDP) to make his mandate available, the Croatian People's Party (HNS), which shares the authority with the SDP in Zagreb,
has said it does not want to take part in a public campaign against Bandic. HNS spokesman Boris Blazekovic has told Hina the HNS and the SDP as coalition partners have had disagreements in the past but the conflicts referred exclusively to joint activities. We do not want to get involved into anything that does not concern joint activities and join in a campaign against Bandic, Blazekovic said. Bandic did not break the law as mayor but as a private person and therefore he cannot transfer moral responsibility to the City Assembly and ask that it take a vote of (no) confidence in him, Blazekovic said. Under the Assembly Rule Book, Bandic cannot make his mandate available but only tender his resignation, which can be irrevocable or conditional. In case he submits an irrevocable resignation, it will be a moral act and will not be voted by the City Assembly, while a conditional resignation, which is what the current situation seems to be (making his mandate available), requires the opinion of the SDP and
ZAGREB, Jan 8 (Hina) - Commenting on a decision by Zagreb mayor
Milan Bandic (of the Social Democratic Party, SDP) to make his
mandate available, the Croatian People's Party (HNS), which shares
the authority with the SDP in Zagreb, has said it does not want to
take part in a public campaign against Bandic.
HNS spokesman Boris Blazekovic has told Hina the HNS and the SDP as
coalition partners have had disagreements in the past but the
conflicts referred exclusively to joint activities. We do not want
to get involved into anything that does not concern joint
activities and join in a campaign against Bandic, Blazekovic said.
Bandic did not break the law as mayor but as a private person and
therefore he cannot transfer moral responsibility to the City
Assembly and ask that it take a vote of (no) confidence in him,
Blazekovic said.
Under the Assembly Rule Book, Bandic cannot make his mandate
available but only tender his resignation, which can be irrevocable
or conditional.
In case he submits an irrevocable resignation, it will be a moral
act and will not be voted by the City Assembly, while a conditional
resignation, which is what the current situation seems to be
(making his mandate available), requires the opinion of the SDP and
its president, Blazekovic said.
The HNS would then hold talks with the SDP as its coalition partner
and discuss further steps.
The Zagreb City Committee of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ),
the largest opposition party in the City Assembly, has welcomed
Bandic's decision to make his mandate available and apologise to
the citizens for his conduct in a car accident last Saturday. As he
has met these two requirements, the HDZ considers the case closed,
the party said in a statement.
In case the currently ruling coalition partners - the SDP and the
HNS - prove unable (to confirm Bandic's mandate) or elect his
successor, a new election will be inevitable, the HDZ believes. The
HDZ is ready and confident that with its programme and human
resources it can secure prosperity for the city, reads the
statement signed by the president of the HDZ Zagreb City Committee,
Robert Pavicic.
Zagreb mayor Bandic this weekend caused a minor car accident.
According to a police report, he was under the influence of alcohol
and left the scene of an on-the-spot investigation twice.
Bandic yesterday apologised and expressed regret at his conduct. He
reiterated his apology at a brief news conference today, saying he
had made his mandate available to the Zagreb City Assembly.
The Zagreb City Assembly has 51 councillors, 20 from the SDP and 12
from the HNS, who form a majority coalition. The Opposition
includes 11 HDZ, five Croatian True Revival (HIP), two Croatian
Party of Rights (HSP) and one Croatian Christian Democrat Party
(HKDU) councillors.
Under the Rule Book, a vote of no confidence requires an absolute
majority, i.e. the votes of 26 councillors.
(hina) sb rml