The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) assumes the responsibility for "certain activities and deviations" that occurred within the party, the HDZ secretary-general and member of the parliamentary Credentials and Privileges Commission, Milijan Brkic, said on Tuesday after the Commission unanimously approved the launching of criminal proceedings against HDZ member of Parliament Petar Cobankovic.
Brkic made the statement when asked by the press how the lifting of immunity from prosecution for Cobankovic and the ongoing trial of former HDZ leader and prime minister Ivo Sanader would affect the HDZ.
"The HDZ has a new leadership and we, as a responsible party and responsible people, assume the responsibility for certain activities and deviations that existed in the party," Brkic said. He said that the HDZ would decide on Cobankovic's political future in the party.
Reporters also wanted to know if the HDZ would stand behind Cobankovic and another accused HDZ MP, Stjepan Fiolic, if Sanader's claims that they had changed their statements in the Planinska corruption case because of blackmail from the State Attorney's Office (DORH) turned out to be true.
"Of course it will stand in the defence of its members, using all legitimate and legal methods. (...) I would not want to speculate whether blackmail was used," Brkic said.
