The latter refers to a provision under which neither foreigners nor Croatians could acquire ownership rights over islands which are of strategic importance. Under the bill, if the people in question managed to do so in the past, these rights would be revoked and they would be entitled to dispossession.
Most clubs of deputies said this provision directly encroached upon ownership
and represented nationalisation, which they added was constitutionally unacceptable.
Deputies' clubs also said that the HSP request for giving the state the right to pre-emptive buying when more than a quarter of an island was on sale was untenable.
The HSP said their bill was the result of frequent articles about the fast sale of real estate along the coast, mostly to foreigners. Party MP Tonci Tadic said Croatia must do something to regulate this sale better. The HSP bill will be debated tomorrow as well.
Today parliament also discussed Libra's motion to exempt aids for blind and partially seeing people from VAT. The opposition endorsed the motion but the ruling Croatian Democratic Union objected, saying that exempting aids for the blind from VAT would bring other people with special needs into an unequal position.
Also discussed was Libra's motion to make persons eligible to vote since the age of 16.
Tomorrow parliament is due to discuss two bills on the establishment of a Croatian Homeland War Memorial Documentation Centre, one moved by the government and the other by the HSP.