ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - The Croatian Constitutional Court on Mondayoverruled as unconstitutional a decision by the Town Council ofOroslavje, some 30 kilometres north of Zagreb, to call a referendum atwhich residents of the Slatina
settlement would voice their opinion onthe Interior Ministry's plan to transform a former barracks in Slatinainto a reception centre for asylum seekers.
ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - The Croatian Constitutional Court on Monday
overruled as unconstitutional a decision by the Town Council of Oroslavje, some
30 kilometres north of Zagreb, to call a referendum at which residents of the
Slatina settlement would voice their opinion on the Interior Ministry's plan to
transform a former barracks in Slatina into a reception centre for asylum
seekers.The Constitutional Court believes that the decision to call the
referendum is not in line with the Constitution, because the issue is not
within the jurisdiction of local self-government units.
Under the decision of the Oroslavje Town Council, the referendum was to
be held on 23 May 2004, however, ten days later, the Central Office for State
Administration suspended it.
The government then submitted a request to establish if the referendum
was in line with the Constitution and by accepting the government's motion, the
Constitutional Court confirmed that the decision to suspend the referendum was
in accordance with the Constitution.