The National Council of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) on Wednesday adopted criteria for holding intra-party elections and concluded that potential candidates must submit their candidacies by May 5.
Potential candidates will acquire candidate status by collecting the signatures of elected delegates, the president of the strongest opposition party, Jadranka Kosor, said after a National Council session.
She said the names of the delegates would be known by May 5 and that candidates for positions in the party would be able to collect signatures by May 19, a day before the HDZ's 15th convention.
Kosor added that each candidate would be able to take part in the election process the whole time in their organisations.
"This is one of our attempts to prevent any candidate from exerting pressure on free election at all party levels," she said.
Candidates will be able to tour the country on May 5-20, using the premises of the party's branches to present their programmes, but will have to pay for all other costs by themselves, Kosor said, adding that his was aimed at ensuring equal conditions for everyone.
As many as 91 per cent of delegates will be elected by secret ballot, she said.
Discussing the dissolving of the HDZ's Valpovo town branch, the National Council concluded that the party's local county committee had acted in line with the statute because the decision to dissolve the branch was made by majority vote.
