Negotiations will continue next Monday.
Delegations of HDZ and MOST, led by party presidents Andrej Plenković and Božo Petrov, met today for the second time to continue their negotiations about forming a new government, reports N1 on September 19, 2016.
HDZ president Plenković expressed his satisfaction with the negotiations. “We focused on seven important points which MOST proposed. Our experts have exchanged their views. Part of them can be achieved immediately after Parliament is constituted, while some of the points will be included in the government programme and implemented after additional consultations. The atmosphere was very good. Our next meeting will be on Monday”, said Plenković.
MOST leader Božo Petrov was also pleased with the talks and said that it was possible to come to compromise solutions. “We are for compromise if there are better proposals. We expect that the expert groups will finish their job. On Monday, we will finish with the discussion about seven points,” said Petrov. “Certain activities require more time. We will conduct a series of activities which will enable us to proclaim the exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea. This is a subject where we have the arguments of the other side. On other items, we have reached an agreement. As far as Croatian Radio Television licence fee is concerned, it cannot be decreased in the first month. I hope that we will reach the desired level within six months”, said Petrov. “Within 30 days, we will constitute new Parliament and adopt the laws, except those that require more time”, he added.
Plenković reiterated that they would seek to adopt the complete package of measures before the government is formed. “We have determined which points are feasible at the moment. HDZ supports the idea that voters should have three preferential votes to give to individual candidates at the elections. With regard to the rights of MPs, I think that we will find a good solution. Croatian Radio Television licence fee requires systematic approach,” stressed Plenković.
“We have not discussed the issue of the number of ministries in the future government. I hope that this will be resolved within two weeks”, said Petrov. He found it important to stress that his party was not negotiating with HDZ. “We are not negotiating with anyone. We want to establish a good relationship. So far we have no reason to doubt whether we will succeed. I have to praise Plenković as a good negotiator”, he said.
He explained today’s meeting between MOST spokesperson and former Živi Zid member Hrvoje Runtić. “We have talked with Runtić about certain laws. He is now an independent MP and we have done nothing wrong. During the campaign, we have not attacked Živi Zid, although they did talk about us”, he concluded.
