Ex-Yugoslav Party Chief Singled Out in Hints of Graft

The leader of Yugoslavia’s trade unions on Tuesday demanded an inquiry into alleged corruption among top Communist Party officials, singling out a former party president, Milanko Renovica.

Zvonimir Hrabar, president of the official, 6-million-member Confederation of Trade Unions of Yugoslavia, made his call on the third and final day of the party’s crisis conference.

“The workers want to know how much truth there is in press reports on apartments and weekend houses of the preceding party president and others,” Hrabar said.

He was referring to seaside villas in the Adriatic resort of Neum that were allegedly built for high officials with irregular loans and funds intended for underdeveloped areas. Renovica’s family was named in those reports.

Yugoslav political analysts said the attack was the latest in a drive by younger politicians to push out leaders they blame for the country’s crisis, through corruption, inefficiency or blocking reforms.

Hrabar was the first at the conference to single out individual leaders with corruption allegations.

The party conference opened Sunday amid worker unrest, 152% inflation, problems with a $21-billion debt and an austerity program linked to a new deal with creditors.