ZAGREB, Feb 26 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Thursday discussed two bills on the transfer of power, one sponsored by the government and the other by the Party of Rights (HSP). Both bills propose which officials should offer
their resignations after a change of government.
ZAGREB, Feb 26 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Thursday discussed
two bills on the transfer of power, one sponsored by the government
and the other by the Party of Rights (HSP). Both bills propose which
officials should offer their resignations after a change of
government.#L#
Under the HSP's proposal, about 270 officials up to the level of
assistant minister, but excluding assistant ministers, should be
relieved of their duties after change of government. On the other
hand, the government proposes that assistant ministers also be
replaced, but that deputy directors of agencies and administrative
organisations remain in their posts.
HSP deputy Miroslav Rozic said that the law should make a distinction
between political posts and posts filled by public servants, and that
it should ensure the functioning of state administration in a period
between a parliamentary election and the formation of a new
government.
Explaining the government's proposal, the secretary of the Central
State Administration Office, Antun Palaric, said that there had been
no acts of revenge-seeking in Croatia for quite some time because of
an unchanging system of professionals in state administration.
Palaric pointed out that the government wanted to prevent the signing
of investment agreements that might be used by a party for
electioneering purposes or for appointing its members to posts in
state administration at the time of change of government, as he said
had happened after the last parliamentary election.
Under the government proposal, an outgoing government would be allowed
to appoint officials only if necessary and sign investment agreements
only for projects to be completed before the transfer of authority.
(Hina) vm sb