As coalition negotiations continue, the Croatian President finally receives the results of the parliamentary elections.
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović received yesterday president of the State Election Commission Branko Hrvatin who gave her the final results of the election for the Parliament which took place on November 8. Consultations with political parties on future prime minister-designate will take place on Thursday, reports Vecernji List on November 25, 2015.
In a statement to reporters, Hrvatin said that as far as the State Election Commission is concerned, its work is done. President will send invitations for consultations to leaders of all parliamentary parties elected to the parliament, and schedule will be published later. Asked whether he expects several rounds of talks, President’s spokesmen Luka Đurić answered: “We shall start with the first round, and then we’ll see.”
The convening of the first session of the newly elected Parliament will be done in accordance with the Constitution. Under the Constitution, the first session of the Parliament must be held within 20 days after the election results are final.
Asked by reporters whether the State Election Commission is preparing for possible new parliamentary elections, Hrvatin said: “We are not preparing, but you have seen that we had been able to organize these elections in a very short time, so, if need be, we’ll be ready.”
SDP member of parliament Peđa Grbin said that Croatia is Growing coalition will come to the consultations with the President with the greatest number of signatures of elected representatives, but he did not specify how many. “Our coalition with have the greatest number of signatures during these consultations, which means that we will go with the signatures of all those who have publicly said they supported us. These are all of our partners who have been with us, as well as the signatures of those who have publicly after the election said they were with us, our colleagues from IDS and representatives of national minorities”, Grbin told reporters. Asked whether all the representatives of national minorities have given their signatures to SDP president Zoran Milanović as the prime minister-designate, he replied: “We have the signatures of those who said they supported us. Milanović will bring the signatures to Presidential Office at 6 pm on Thursday and show their exact number.
Grbin expected that the President will consult with all the parties that have won seats in the parliament and that, in accordance with the Constitution, the mandate to form the new government will be given to person who can prove that he or she enjoys the support of at least 76 members of parliament. “This means that we will have to wait for some time for negotiations to finish. I am confident that SDP will reach the threshold”, Grbin added.
Leader of MOST Božo Petrov said yesterday that MOST will not break apart. “It will not happen. As for the two MPs that yesterday went to the inaugural meeting of HRID party, we knew about that. They will have to decide whether they will caucus with MOST or not. What I have learned from talking with them yesterday, they stand firmly with MOST.”
