Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor has again invited the parliamentary opposition parties to meet with the government to agree on issues of vital importance to Croatia over the next few months.
"Let's complete (EU entry) negotiations and develop a public communication strategy together to ensure a successful referendum on EU membership," Kosor told Croatian Television in an interview on Wednesday evening.
She said that strong support was needed from the opposition parties for state institutions combating corruption, adding that support was also needed from the opposition and trade unions for projects aimed at overcoming the economic crisis.
Commenting on the initiative by the strongest opposition party, the Social Democrats (SDP), for a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, which was debated at today's session of Parliament, Kosor noted that "a lot of hard words" had been said in Parliament today, adding that she was hurt the most by the statement by SDP leader Zoran Milanovic that "the government disgraced Croatia," which she said was unbecoming to Parliament.
Kosor said that her government had support for its work, in combating corruption and bringing EU entry talks to completion, as her recent visit to Brussels had shown.
The PM said that the next parliamentary election would be held "this time or a little later next year," reiterating that the current efforts by the opposition would halt the EU membership negotiations and the crackdown on rampant corruption.
Speaking of the situation in her party, the HDZ, Kosor said that it was "very good". "I'm leading the party in such a way that everyone can say their opinion, but if we agree on main objectives, then everyone should defend that position."
When asked how she would "satisfy the appetite of the coalition partners" in next year's budget, Kosor said there would be no problems with the budget.
"The 2011 budget will be voted in. None of the partners has come out with extra demands, everyone's very responsible," she said, adding that the budget would be viable.
"We have begun discussions on the budget. We have adopted guidelines and the main outlines have been laid down. The most important thing is that for the first time in Croatia we have frozen the budget expenditure," Kosor said, recalling that a law on the fiscal accountability of all budget beneficiaries would also be adopted.
