ZAGREB, June 1 (Hina) - Leaders of six Croatian ruling parties today reached a partial agreement on forming local governments. In Medjimurje County, for example, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) will remain in the opposition, while
the executive authority will be comprised of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Croatian People's Party (HNS) and the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS). SDP president Ivica Racan announced the possibility of his party being in the opposition in Split if the HSLS does not give up the idea of creating a technical government with the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Asked whether negotiations on the establishment of local governments were paralysing the work of the government, Racan replied in the negative, stressing the government continues to do its work effectively and responsibly. It is clear that there are some aberrations from the harmonised stance of the six parties of the coaliti
ZAGREB, June 1 (Hina) - Leaders of six Croatian ruling parties today
reached a partial agreement on forming local governments. In
Medjimurje County, for example, the Social Democratic Party (SDP)
will remain in the opposition, while the executive authority will
be comprised of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Croatian
People's Party (HNS) and the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS).
SDP president Ivica Racan announced the possibility of his party
being in the opposition in Split if the HSLS does not give up the
idea of creating a technical government with the Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ).
Asked whether negotiations on the establishment of local
governments were paralysing the work of the government, Racan
replied in the negative, stressing the government continues to do
its work effectively and responsibly.
It is clear that there are some aberrations from the harmonised
stance of the six parties of the coalition on unifying during the
formation of local governments, but too many extensive aberrations
could negatively affect the work of the ruling coalition at the
national level, Racan said after a five-hour meeting among leaders
of the six parties at the Parliament today.
Medjimurje County will thus be one of areas in which the stance of
the six parties' presidents will not be obeyed. Last Tuesday they
agreed that they will make coalitions wherever possible in forming
local governments. At the time they also agreed that the party which
won the most votes at the local elections has the right to elect the
executive authority head in local self-government units from its
ranks.
As the SDP, in coalition with the Croatian Pensioners' Party (HSU),
won the largest number of seats, eleven, in the Medjimurje County
Assembly, according to Tuesday's agreement, the SDP should be able
to choose a county prefect from its ranks.
It seems that HSLS, HNS and HSS local branches in Medjimurje County
refused this possibility, so it was concluded that the agreement
previously reached by the three parties be implemented.
Accordingly, the HSLS will choose the county prefect, and the other
two parties deputy prefects.
Racan was asked to comment on harsh criticism to which the six
parties' idea on creating so-called large coalitions in several
counties in which neither parties nor ruling coalitions, nor the
HDZ can form the local government individually, has been
subjected.
Racan recalled some of the counties are areas of special government
concern or marginal regions, and stressed that "responsibility
spurred" the six parties to make such an initiative.
"If authority is not established in these areas, we will face a
worse political situation than Croatia needs," Racan said.
The ruling coalition agreed to meet again on Monday.
(hina) lml sb