Gov't supports referendum but blames organisers for irregularities, minister says

Public Administration Minister Lovro Kuscevic said on Wednesday the government supported referendums as democratic expressions of people's will and that it did not object to any referendum petitions but to the irregularities done by the organisers of two recent petitions.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a cabinet meeting, Kuscevic said he would present a report on the signatures collected for the two referendums at the meeting. "We can discuss those irregularities, their number, the number of valid and invalid signatures after we present the report."

Asked if referendums on changing the election legislation and repealing the ratification of the Istanbul Convention would be held, he said: "We'll see today when the government takes note of the report and sends it to parliament."

A reporter noted that there would be rebellion regardless of the report's findings, especially since Kuscevic did not allow organisers' observers at the counting of the signatures, and the minister said: "Who loses has the right to be upset."

He dismissed speculation that he was wrong not to allow the organisers of the two referendum petitions to observe the counting, saying the law did not allow observers. "It wasn't about my will but about respecting Croatian law."

The minister said his and the government's position on the referendum questions had nothing to do with the expert, objective and legal signature counting. "These are the findings of an expert commission which is not biased in any way. If the organisers collected enough signatures, there will be a referendum. If they didn't, there will be no referendum."

Kuscevic said it would be fair if The People Decide initiative, which wants a referendum to change election legislation, registered as a party and took part in the political race. Everyone who has political ambitions must draw up a good platform and gather people who are willing to realise that platform, he added.

"But trying to awaken emotions in people to gain political visibility and keep one's sinecures in parliament, that's neither ethical nor in line with political activity," he added.

Asked if the referendum questions should be put to the Constitutional Court to see if they were in line with the constitution, Kuscevic said it was up to parliament to decide.

Text: Hina

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