Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic held a press conference on Friday reiterating his call to political parties to make their proposals for a date for European Parliament elections in Croatia.
At a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Milanovic called on all political parties, notably those in Parliament, to say when it would be the best for Croatia to hold elections for the European Parliament.
"We have heard various reactions, not what would be the best for Croatia but 'what is my interest in it and how can I fit into it.' I don't want to think like that. Let's ask ourselves what is the best for Croatia and for voters. Should these elections be held together with local elections or after them?" the PM said.
"I asked for a discussion, but I haven't heard it. I continue to call on people to join in this dialogue constructively and say what they think is the best. What I heard yesterday was just a racket and unfounded criticisms," he added.
Milanovic said that it was not unimportant to his Social Democratic Party (SDP) when the elections would be held, but that it was not crucial either, as long as they were held in time, that is before July 1 when Croatia is scheduled to join the EU.
Milanovic explained that elections were not called by the government but by the President of the Republic. A date for European elections is otherwise determined by an administrative decision because they are held in all EU member states on the same day, but this year, by a combination of circumstances, Croatia needs to hold elections earlier. The term of Croatian members of the European Parliament will last barely a year as EU-wide elections are due next year.
"I'm calling for dialogue. (We can agree on a date) and then propose it together to the President of the Republic. I have the impression that he would prefer if it was agreed upon by a majority," Milanovic said.
On Thursday, Milanovic called on the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and other opposition parties to propose a date for European Parliament elections, saying that the EU accession treaty was clear on this issue - elections must be held in April, May or June at the latest.
"By July 1 we must have 12 elected representatives for the European Parliament, so we have two or three months at best for preparations," he added.
The government on Thursday sent to Parliament a bill of amendments to the law on the election of representatives of Croatia in the European Parliament. The proposed amendments provide for open slates, and Administration Minister Arsen Bauk told the press after the Cabinet meeting this meant that people would be able to vote not just for a party but also for one candidate on the slate of the party for which they voted.
When asked why local elections and elections for the European Parliament could not be held at the same time, Bauk said there were both technical and political reasons, including disparate topics that would be raised. One minute we would be discussing local utilities and the next we would be talking about Cyprus or relations between France and Germany, he said.
(Hina)
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