The parliamentary Credentials and Privileges Commission (MIP) will next Wednesday consider the request of former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader to activate his mandate as a member of parliament, commission chairman Damir Sesvecan said on Thursday, explaining that there was no reason for the MIP to convene earlier as the parliament will reconvene also on Wednesday.
Sanader won a seat in the parliament (Sabor) at the 2007 elections as a candidate of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), but he put his parliamentary mandate on hold when he became premier.
Zeljana Kalas of the HDZ has been standing in for him in parliament so far.
On 1 July 2009, when he resigned as PM, Sanader reactivated his mandate again, only to suspend it immediately. In this way he created conditions for activating again his mandate as an MP any moment after the expiry of a six-month suspension. This six-month moratorium expired in January this year.
Sanader sent his request in writing for the reactivation of his term on Wednesday, 13 October.
According to Sesvecan, next Wednesday, MIP will consider Sanader's request in order to establish whether it is in line with the law. After that, the commission should inform the parliament about its decision, which is to be endorsed at the parliament's plenary session.
This January, Sanader was expunged from the HDZ membership.
