Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) president Tomislav Karamarko has said that expulsion from party membership is regulated by the HDZ's statute.
"I do not expel anybody from the party. If someone leaves or is expelled from the party, it is is a matter of our statute and is a consequence of doing something in contravention to the party's policy," Karamarko told the press in the national parliament in a comment on media speculations that his predecessor Jadranka Kosor could face expulsion from party membership.
"If Mrs. Kosor or any other HDZ member works against the party's interests or gives statements that are out of step with the HDZ policy and fundamental positions, the statute will have to be applied," Karamarko said.
Asked whether Kosor was working to the HDZ's detriment, Karamarko replied that while she had been the HDZ leader, Kosor had had "a specific style" of work and nobody could give any public statement without her prior approval. He went on to say that he was now leading the party in a different manner and everyone could give statements without asking him in advance.
"However, these statements must be in line with the party's policy," he emphasised.
In this context he criticised Mrs Kosor for making statements that differed from the party's position on the ratification of the 1999 Croatia-Bosnia border demarcation agreement.
He admitted that it was too early to assess Kosor's public statements and announced the HDZ presidency's meeting in the coming days to discuss the matter due to "a growing pressure from the grass-roots membership". Karamarko said that HDZ members were calling to ask how it happened that some members were making statements out of line with the party's position.
He declined to comment on speculations that the HDZ was the source of the latest stories about Kosor's extravagance and her spending party funds jewellery while at the HDZ's helm.
"I would not comment on this... These are trivial topics," Karamarko said.
Earlier in the day the party's secretary-general Milijan Brkic said that the HDZ Court of Honour would consider the status of Kosor following her latest statements. He said no disciplinary proceedings against Kosor were under way.
