Croatian PM steps down
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Temmuz 02, 2009 00:00
ZAGREB - Croatia's Prime Minister Ivo Sanader resigned and quit politics on Wednesday, only hinting at frustration with his country's delayed EU membership bid as a reason for the shock announcement.
"I have decided to withdraw from active politics and will not run as a candidate for Croatian president in elections due this year," Sanader told a hastily arranged media conference.
"Thank God I am not ill... and I admit that I did not accept offers for engagement in European Union institutions," Sanader said. He said his party was to propose Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor as his immediate successor to President Stipe Mesic. The move comes after the European Union stopped accession talks last week with Zagreb due to a border row with neighboring Slovenia.
Asked whether his announcement was prompted by Croatia's stalled EU entry process, Sanader admitted the issue had contributed to his decision.
"Thank God I am not ill... and I admit that I did not accept offers for engagement in European Union institutions," Sanader said. He said his party was to propose Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor as his immediate successor to President Stipe Mesic. The move comes after the European Union stopped accession talks last week with Zagreb due to a border row with neighboring Slovenia.
Asked whether his announcement was prompted by Croatia's stalled EU entry process, Sanader admitted the issue had contributed to his decision.