Four opposition caucuses in the Zagreb City Assembly on Tuesday filed a motion for a local referendum to be called regarding proposed amendments to the city's e General Urban Development Plan (GUP).

Social Democratic Party (SDP) councillor Matej Misic said that 20 councillors had signed the motion three more than the required one third of all councillors. All those councillors who have been the Opposition since the assembly was first convened, signed the motion, he said.

Councillors from the SDP, Left Bloc, Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), GLAS and Croatian Pensioners’ Party (HSU) and Independent Councillor Vladimir Fedelji sponsored the motion, said Misic, because the mayor has implemented the entire procedure of amending the GUP in a non-transparent manner.

The four opposition parties presume that the mayor will put the item of amendments to the GUP on the agenda for the very next meeting while Councillor Anka Mrak–Taritas (Glas) assessed the GUP as bad plan that the mayor had turned into a soap opera.

“The interest of individuals are at stake here, or rather, friends and patrons and all those whom the mayor has promised something but there is no interest for citizens. As the opposition, we will not allow such a bad plan, if he manages to have it adopted, to be implemented further and we will use everything at our disposal and in keeping with the law,” Mrak-Taritas said.

Councillor Tomislav Tomasevic (Zagreb is Ours!) underscored that in order for the motion to be passed in the assembly, it required the support of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). In order for a referendum to be called, it should be supported by an absolute majority, that is 26 councillors.