Social Democratic Party (SDP) member of Parliament Zeljko Jovanovic, who was stripped of immunity by Parliament on Friday, has said that he will not apologise to the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) even if that party makes the withdrawal of its defamation lawsuit against him conditional on his apology.
Prime Minister and HDZ president Jadranka Kosor said on Saturday morning that the HDZ would withdraw its defamation lawsuit against Jovanovic if Jovanovic and his "brother in hate", SDP president Zoran Milanovic, apologised to the HDZ.
Jovanovic said today that he did not want an apology from PM Kosor and that he would not apologise to her.
"Acting on Kosor's orders and following instructions from HDZ vice-presidents Vladimir Seks and Andrija Hebrang, the HDZ insulted and brought disgrace on Parliament and Croatia's parliamentary democracy on Friday. So it is Croatian citizens who deserve an apology from Kosor," Jovanovic told reporters at an event in Zagreb at which the SDP-led opposition coalition presented its election platform.
The HDZ has sued Jovanovic for calling the HDZ leadership a criminal organisation.
