Croatian Opposition:HNS Satisfied – SDP Speechless

The first comment from the opposition about the vice-president seats has arrived. Will the opposition agree on the new parliament?

ZAGREB, CROATIA - The newly constituted Croatian parliament has made the decision to move the election of the two vice-presidents from the opposition ranks to the next sitting. This decision was made because SDP (Social Democratic Party) and HNS (Croatian People’s Party) have not managed to reach an agreement about sharing the vice-president seats.

This decision was announced after HDZ’s (Croatian Democratic Party) proposal was made. Party member Andrija Hebrang avoided the option that HDZ takes part as moderator in the election of the fourth and the fifth vice-president.

Commenting on this delay, the president of HNS Vesna Pusic told us that HNS is satisfied with this decision. However, Pusic said that the party would have nothing against proceedings if the election of the two vice-presidents were held today.

- The delay HDZ proposed is a possible way, but we would have nothing against it if the election were held now – said Pusic, adding that HNS’ position is that they, as third strongest party in parliament, have the right to have one of their members in the vice-presidency.

Will we have a concerted opposition in the new assembly?

After arguments between the two strongest opposition parties, which appeared before the parliament was formed, rises the question how the opposition can be concerted in the following four years.

Pusic thinks that every party has a different policy and this fight between SDP and HNS should not influence the work of the opposition.

- This is not a matter of sympathy, but of political position – Pusic stated. She also denied media speculations that SDP and HNS have reached an agreement over their propositions for the parliament’s vice-presidency this morning.

We also asked president of SDP Zoran Milanovic to comment on the party's fight and the delay of the vice-president’s election. However, he did not want to give any comments, stating that everyone already knows everything about it.

When asked to repeat the party’s position, Milanovic just waved his hand.