The opposition said the bill on the election of municipal heads, mayors and prefects defined only the procedure for direct election but not the powers of elected local leaders, their relationship with the representative body, their dismissal, and management of local government units' assets.
Deputies of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) dismissed the objections, underlining that the bill was expected to go into force only in 2009 and that the government was preparing amendments to the law on local and regional self-government.
Parliament today also amended the law on Croatian decorations so that in the future it will be possible to award high decorations for merits in the Homeland War to Croatian Army units, and not just to individuals and legal persons.
Parliament ratified an agreement with Slovenia on the handover and reception of persons illegally entering or staying in either of the two countries, as well as a memorandum between the government and the European Commission on the financing of the construction of a waste water purification plant and improvement of the water supply system in the city and county of Karlovac.
The latter project is worth EUR36 million, of which 22.5 million are non-repayable funds from the ISPA preaccession programme, 3.5 million will be set aside from the national budget, while Karlovac County received a EUR10 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Parliament also endorsed a law on the implementation of European Union programmes and projects financed from loans, deeds of donation and other foreign sources, and a law ratifying an agreement with the World Health Organisation on establishing technical and advisory cooperation.
Parliament asked for a second reading of bills on forests and the establishment of a university in Pula.
Tomorrow, parliament will arrange a reception to mark the 15th anniversary of the referendum at which Croatian citizens opted for independence from the Yugoslav federation.