29/10/2010
Speculation abounds as a former prime minister begins another chapter in his political life.
By Natasa Radic for Southeast European Times in Zagreb -- 29/10/10
Speculation abounds as a former prime minister begins another chapter in his political life.
By Natasa Radic for Southeast European Times in Zagreb -- 29/10/10
After testifying in parliament about the privatisation of Croatia's state-owned oil company INA, former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader startled colleagues and the public by announcing he will reactivate his parliamentary mandate.
It is the latest surprise from a man who abruptly retired from office while at the peak of political power, only to announce his return to politics a few months later. Having been expelled from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Sanader is re-entering parliament as an independent.
He said he could not simply stand aside while, as he put it, democracy in Croatia is threatened.
Independent opposition MP Dragutin Lesar is surprised that everyone else is. "Of course, all of a sudden there is an avalanche of speculations, calculations and assessments ... But was it a surprise? Well, not really, at least not for me," Lesar said.
Thinktank argues that Sanader wants to use his parliamentary post to silence his critics. "There are too many of those who criticise him. He already announced this intention and we can all sit and wait as if we will have to buy tickets for that political match, or Croatian television will have the direct transmission so that we can see it live," he writes.
It is the latest surprise from a man who abruptly retired from office while at the peak of political power, only to announce his return to politics a few months later. Having been expelled from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Sanader is re-entering parliament as an independent.
He said he could not simply stand aside while, as he put it, democracy in Croatia is threatened.
Independent opposition MP Dragutin Lesar is surprised that everyone else is. "Of course, all of a sudden there is an avalanche of speculations, calculations and assessments ... But was it a surprise? Well, not really, at least not for me," Lesar said.
Thinktank argues that Sanader wants to use his parliamentary post to silence his critics. "There are too many of those who criticise him. He already announced this intention and we can all sit and wait as if we will have to buy tickets for that political match, or Croatian television will have the direct transmission so that we can see it live," he writes.
Other bloggers assess his performance during the parliamentary inquiry concerning INA. The Social Democratic opposition, Mracni blog writes, were less harsh in their questioning than might have been expected.
"Perhaps they were afraid he might give them a straight answer," he writes. "His own former HDZ colleagues were more direct but also nervous, and were trying to hide this by looking at their papers."
"The doctor ate them all with a teaspoon," writes PMS blog, referring to the ex-prime minister's academic credentials he holds as PhD. "They are laughing at us all and are still fools."
Zombix suggests a web of ties and collusion among government officials. "We will see now who had their fingers in the cookie jar," he writes, adding that "they all made deals with Sanader."
This content was commissioned for SETimes.com.
"Perhaps they were afraid he might give them a straight answer," he writes. "His own former HDZ colleagues were more direct but also nervous, and were trying to hide this by looking at their papers."
"The doctor ate them all with a teaspoon," writes PMS blog, referring to the ex-prime minister's academic credentials he holds as PhD. "They are laughing at us all and are still fools."
Zombix suggests a web of ties and collusion among government officials. "We will see now who had their fingers in the cookie jar," he writes, adding that "they all made deals with Sanader."
This content was commissioned for SETimes.com.
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου