The presidency of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) unanimously decided on Wednesday that the party election process, scheduled for 20 May, would be carried out under the existing regulations, the party said in a statement, issued after today's session which lasted for several hours.
Also adopted was a decision to launch the initiative aimed at amending the HDZ Statute, under which the head of the party would be elected following the one member, one vote (OMOV) principle in the next election cycle.
The presidency of the strongest opposition party also decided to launch the proceedings aimed at relieving Science, Education and Sports Minister Zeljko Jovanovic of his duties.
At today's session, the presidency appointed a nine-member task force to consider the initiative to introduce the OMOV principle as well as all other proposals and forwarded them for adopting under regular procedure.
Before today's session, several protesters gathered outside the HDZ headquarters, protesting against a possible plea bargain deal between the HDZ and Chief State Prosecutor Mladen Bajic in the case in which the HDZ, as a legal entity, is charged with having had slush funds in which money syphoned from state agencies and ministries ended up.
