ZAGREB, May 6, 2020 – Croatian People’s Party (HNS) whip Milorad Batinić said on Wednesday that the ruling coalition would like the parliamentary election to be held in the second half of July at the latest.
“The second half of July at the latest,” Batinić told reporters in Parliament House when asked when the ruling coalition would like the election to be held.
Once parliament is dissolved, the “conductor’s wand” is in the President’s hands and he will determine the date of the election, added Batinić.
Batinić believes that the election should be held as soon as possible and notes that his party is ready for it and will uphold the decision to dissolve the parliament.
The HNS plans to run in the election on its own but coalitions with liberal parties are possible, he said.
“I will send all liberal options and civic centre parties an invitation on behalf of the party to gather around the HNS for the election because that is the only way to establish a balance between the left and the right,” Batinić said.
Commenting on a bill on the reconstruction of Zagreb, Batinić said that it was in the interest of everyone, citizens of Zagreb and surrounding counties that were affected by the March 22 earthquake.
“As far as the HNS and Minister (Predrag) Štromar are concerned, the bill is ready and we believe that… it will be forwarded to parliament either this week or next,” said Batinić.
He added that the HNS had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković who did not specify whether the bill would be put on the agenda before parliament was dissolved but that he believed that that was in Plenković’s interest.
“We never gave the government any ultimatums. We advocate dialogue and believe that it is in the interest of the HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) and the entire ruling coalition and Prime Minister Plenković for the bill to be put on the agenda as soon as possible,” said Batinić.
More election news can be found in the Politics section.
