"The commission was appointed and some of its members are eminent individuals," Seks said in the eastern town of Vukovar. He added that the opposition tried to halt the commission's work in the past as well, "and steps had to be taken so the commission make-up could be completed".
At the proposal of the parliamentary Committee on Appointments, the parliamentary majority yesterday relieved Zeljko Horvatic and Petar Marija Radelj of their duties in the commission. Milan Ramljak and Zdravko Tomac were appointed as their successors, while Nikola Mak, an MP representing ethnic minorities, was also appointed to the commission.
The opposition vehemently objected to the appointments and left the Parliament hall, after which chair Seks closed the session.
The clubs of deputies of the Social Democratic Party, the Croatian Peasant Party, and the Croatian Party of Rights yesterday sent an open letter to Seks claiming the new Conflict of Interest Commission was not appointed lawfully, which they said was a breach of the rule book.
Responding to the question from the press if the commission chairperson must come from the opposition, Seks answered in the negative, saying the chairperson could not come from the ruling party and need not be a member of Parliament.
He said the ruling Croatian Democratic Union had only one member on the seven-member commission.
Seks visited Vukovar today to attend the marking of the 13th death anniversary of Major General Blago Zadro, one of the commanders of Croatian defence forces during the Serb aggression on the town.