In their comments on Thursday's demonstrations in streets leading to Zagreb's St. Mark's Square, where the government is headquartered, Croatian parliamentary parties' representatives on Friday said that citizens had the right to express their dissatisfaction at peaceful rallies but that "taking to the streets" was not a method for changing the government in a democracy such Croatia.
The head of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentary group, Andrija Hebrang, said that in a democratic country like Croatia, the government was changed at elections and not in the streets.
Croatia is a democratic country and elections will ensue immediately after the signing of the Croatia-EU accession treaty, that is in a few months' time, Hebrang said, adding that street protests could only harm Croatia's efforts to wrap up the EU accession negotiations.
Josip Friscic, president of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), a junior partner in the ruling coalition, said that protests were legitimate for every democracy, adding that he saw "a lack of realism" in the demands of those who staged the rally yesterday.
Milorad Pupovac of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), another junior partner in the ruling coalition, said that protests were usual in democracies but one should take care of preserving political stability and a stable atmosphere ahead of parliamentary elections.
The secretary-general of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), Igor Dragovan, said that the Croatian Constitution provided for the right to public rallies and expression of dissatisfaction but that problems were not solved by going to the streets but to the polls in democratic elections.
"Therefore, I call on HDZ leader and Prime Minister (Jadranka Kosor) to finally say when parliamentary elections will be held. This is what Croatian citizens expect," the SDP MP said.
In response to reporters' questions why none of the members of the Opposition parties had joined in yesterday's protest, he said that those in the Opposition "offer their solutions in the Croatian Parliament and via other institutions."
Vesna Pusic of the opposition Croatian People's Party (HNS) said that peaceful protests were a democratic manner of expressing dissatisfaction.
Pusic believes that the police response was "out of proportion" to what was going on at yesterday's protest rally.
Commenting on claims that Opposition politicians did not join the rally as they were waiting for others to do their job, Pusic said that the Opposition did not oust the government at rallies.
Opposition activities aimed at changing those in power are based on political activity, on elections, she said.
Labour Party leader Dragutin Lesar expressed regret at use of violence by both the police and some of demonstrators.
