The Presidency of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party unanimously decided on Thursday to expunge former Deputy Prime Minister Damir Polancec from its membership records for damaging the party's reputation.
After a three-hour meeting, neither the HDZ President and Prime Minister, Jadranka Kosor, nor Presidency members would speak to the press.
Polancec joined the HDZ after its election victory in 2003. He had been arrested on suspicion of fraud in the Podravka food company and was suspended from all party duties on March 30.
On Tuesday, Polancec testified before a parliamentary inquiry commission looking into the privatisation of the INA oil company. He said that during negotiations between INA and the Hungarian oil company MOL he had kept the HDZ Presidency and government ministers regularly informed and had taken no decisions without their approval.
Prime Minister Kosor confirmed on Wednesday that she had met with Polancec a few days ago.
