POLITICIANS COMMENT ON IDEA ABOUT BROAD COALITION IN SOME COUNTIES

ZAGREB, May 30 (Hina) - An idea about "broad coalitions" in four counties, where the relations between political parties do not enable the constitution of a stable executive authority, enjoys support from most parliamentary parties, but the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) regards the proposal as not real. During their session on Tuesday, leaders of six ruling parties agree that the establishment of broad coalitions embracing all the parties which have crossed the five-percent election threshold could be possible in four counties as follows: Vukovar-Sirmium, Lika-Senj, Sisak-Moslavina and Karlovac. Croatia's Premier and the chief of the Social Democrats (SDP) Ivica Racan on Wednesday explained the six-party coalition's stand saying that "it will be worth trying to form a joint authority through the cooperation of all the parties in the said counties as to achieve greater tolerance, better atmosphere and better inter- ethnic relations there." He reiterated their stand to make coalitions in all the areas where it was possible. There is also a possibility that some parties which make up the ruling coalition decide to form a coalition with parties outside "the Six" in some other areas, besides the said counties. However, this will imply the abandonment from the joint stand of "the Six", Premier Racan said on Wednesday after the solemn parliamentary session held on the occasion of Statehood Day. A leader of the opposition HDZ, Vladimir Seks, has described the idea of "the Six" as unreal, given that a broad coalition has been suggested in the four counties where the HDZ almost won an absolute majority. "To offer cooperation to the HDZ in those four counties means to offer to the victors what belongs to them, and this is a narrow- minded stand of the Six," Seks said adding that his party was willing to cooperate in all counties. HDZ President Ivo Sanader called on the Six to let local branches make decisions on forming coalitions, as for him it is undemocratic that top party chiefs decide on the set up of coalitions at local levels. Sanader added that the normalisation of the political scenes would be possible when nothing was any longer a slave to relations at the state level. Liberal Party (LS) President Zlatko Kramaric said the formation of broad coalitions was a good idea especially for local levels. This step can prevent unnecessary crises and the holding of another round of elections at which a turnout may be even lower, Kramaric added. It is not possible to join a coalition with political parties that do not give up the language of hatred and do not recognise some state institutions, the LS boss said adding that it would be advisable to form a coalition with the HDZ where it would facilitate efforts to overcome conflicts and this depends on each individual municipality, town or county. A leader of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Vilim Herman, welcomed the idea believing that broad coalitions may stabilise the political circumstances in some areas. Vesna Skare Ozbolt of the Democratic Centre (DC) also greeted positively that idea saying that in the said counties DC seats may be decisive, but this party does not want to align with any side. In this way, right and left parties will be forced to come closer to the centre and begin working to the benefit of the citizens, she explained. Serb People's Party (SNS) President Milan Djukic assessed that forming broad coalitions would mean going back to the previous system after democratic changes. In his mind, this may mean the support to the HDZ's bids to return to power. "However, I would rather interpret Racan's statement as a call for the formation of a coalition against the HDZ," Djukic added. (hina) ms