ZAGREB, Dec 9 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader, Ivo Sanader, whom President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday entrusted with the task of the premier-designate, said he was expecting a higher number of MPs than 76 who had
signed their backing to the new HDZ government to support his cabinet.
ZAGREB, Dec 9 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader,
Ivo Sanader, whom President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday entrusted with
the task of the premier-designate, said he was expecting a higher
number of MPs than 76 who had signed their backing to the new HDZ
government to support his cabinet. #L#
Being asked in an interview he gave to the Croatian Television on
Tuesday evening how he was going to rule because of the fact that he
would have a slim majority in the Sabor, Sanader said the discipline
of MPs played an important role in this. The support of MPs to the
government will rise if the government succeeds in implementing a
high-quality economic policy, which will lead to better standard
and the settlement of other open issues, the HDZ chief said.
He announced the cut in the number of ministries to 15 or even
smaller number.
Commenting on the most likely candidates for some ministerial
posts, Sanader said that the HDZ vice president, Jadranka Kosor,
was the most likely candidate for one of two posts of the vice
premier. Miomir Zuzul is very likely to be the new foreign
minister.
Ivan Suker is one of short-listed candidates for the new finance
minister, and Bozidar Kalmeta, whom Sanader described as the very
successful mayor of the southern city of Zadar will be given the
post of some other important ministry.
Sanader said the name of the new economy minister was still unknown.
In this context he announced the merger of the economy ministry with
the social welfare and labour ministry as well as the merger of the
ministry of tourism and agriculture ministry.
He confirmed that one of the first moves of his cabinet would be the
reduction of the current 22-percent Value Added Tax.
Sanader believes that the budgetary deficit could be covered by
funds secured through austerity measures and the scaled-down state
administration. Projections of state budgets for the next two years
show that between four and five billion kuna could be saved through
such measures.
The HDZ head said his party would begin talks about the staff in the
new government tomorrow.
He dismissed media reports that the HDZ had discussed with
potential coalition partners -- the HSLS (Social Liberals) and the
DC (Democratic Centre)-- the division of ministerial posts. The HDZ
will talk with them on their possible entry into the new government
only if they sign coalition agreements, Sanader explained.
He added that he continued seeing the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP)
as a possible partner in the parliament, and reiterated that he was
not disappointed with the decision the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS)
not to take part in the new government.
Asked how he was going to solve the case of the runaway general Ante
Gotovina, wanted by the Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal, Sander
answered that he would settle the issue within the full cooperation
with the tribunal and in compliance with the Constitutional Law on
cooperation with that court.
"We would like to set Croatia in motion and make courageous moves,
and the time will show whether we have been right," he said.
(hina) ms