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Josipovic says fact that there are no untouchables in anti-corruption drive gives hope

Autor: mses
ZAGREB, Dec 19 (Hina) - Croatian President Ivo Josipovic has said in his interview for the Rijeka-based Novi List that Croatia is coming closer to justice in important segments and that reason for optimism and belief in justice lies in the fact that there are no longer untouchables.

The president said in the interview which was published on Saturday that proceedings that have been lately initiated can be viewed as an opportunity to re-examine everyone's role, including the role of the incumbent prime minister.

In response to the question whether he believes that PM Jadranka Kosor and government ministers have not known about the scope of corruption, the president says that all protagonists on the political scene can be criticised for having been insufficiently cautious.

"The proceedings that are being launched open a new opportunity to re-examine everyone's role. I have seen today that PM Kosor will testify. This is an opportunity to re-examine her role, anyone's role. I reiterate that I consider this to be a positive and irreversible process," Josipovic said.

Although they demonstrate the depth of the moral and legal crisis in Croatia, the ongoing processes clearly show that the society has decided to take the other course, he said adding that PM Kosor's concept of zero-tolerance for corruption and his concept of new justice contributed to this trend of strengthening the independence of judicial agencies and the police.

Commenting on the economy, the president described the situation as difficult due to unemployment, deteriorating living standards and the situation in public finance.

However, a better dialogue has been achieved between the government and trade unions that have reached a relatively high consensus on many issues, including referendum. I will not say that problems have been solved, but a new climate is being created, he said.

The president said he was happy to see that the latest constitutional amendments eliminated limitation periods for crimes from ownership transformation and privatisation.

"I have proposed that for years, the government has persisted in turning down my proposal only to accept it now," he added.

Asked whether the incumbent cabinet has legitimacy to lead the anti-corruption campaign, Josipovic said the answer to this question would be given by voters at the next elections.

In response to the question whether he would resign if he were in PM Kosor's shoes, the president said "Fortunately I am not in her shoes."

Asked whether the new election legislation was a result of concession which the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) granted to the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) in return for its support to the governing coalition, he said that he did not like the solution (about the election of minority representatives) as it prefers one political option that represents only a part of the Serb national minority.

I believe that it would generate antagonism among the Serb electorate and cause disapproval from a larger segment of the entire Croatian political scene. However, time will show good and bad aspects of that solution," he said adding that he had not yet received the text of the new legislation when he was asked to comment on the solution that the major Serb party can get all three seats in parliament allocated to Serb representatives provided that it wins a relatively majority.

I must study it (legislation) carefully before a final decision, but I think that I will have to seriously consider a possibility of asking the Constitutional Court to give its position, he added.

(Hina) ms

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