ZAGREB, April 1 (Hina) - The Social Democratic Party's (SDP) whip Mato Arlovic stated in parliament on Tuesday his bench and all party deputies would revoke the SDP-sponsored amendments to a bill of changes to the election law so that
parliament could reach a consensus on the changes.
ZAGREB, April 1 (Hina) - The Social Democratic Party's (SDP) whip
Mato Arlovic stated in parliament on Tuesday his bench and all party
deputies would revoke the SDP-sponsored amendments to a bill of
changes to the election law so that parliament could reach a
consensus on the changes. #L#
The SDP's amendments, he said, advocated anti-partitocracy, i.e.
lessening the influence of political parties and increasing the
influence of the electorate, a higher degree of control by the
electorate, and shortening the media blackout (from midnight to 7
p.m., when polling stations are closed).
Commenting on minority representation, Arlovic said his party
stuck by the solution offered by the parliament's Committee on the
Constitution and Rule Book, according to which eight minority
deputies, including three Serbs, would be elected to the
parliament.
Deputies of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) insisted that the
Diaspora continue to elect its deputies in a special constituency.
They urged that six Diaspora seats be guaranteed i.e. fixed, and
that other Diaspora deputies be elected according to the non-fixed
quota.
If the non-fixed quota is applied, the number of deputies will
depend on the number of voters who went to the polls in Croatia and
abroad. The opposition, particularly the HDZ, strongly opposes the
request of minority MPs that minorities be given double voting
rights.
An additional vote, not a double vote, is positive discrimination,
said Furio Radin of the minority bench, explaining that those who
are given additional rights cannot be stripped of their basic
rights.
The parliament ended today's sitting with closing speeches by party
whips.
The parliament should pass the amended electoral bill tomorrow,
April 2, thus meeting a constitutional obligation under which
electoral regulations for the next parliamentary election should
be known one year before the election.
The Committee on the Constitution and Rule Book will prepare
tomorrow's vote, i.e. discuss and make known its opinion on all
objections and proposals presented during the debate on the bill.
(hina) rml sb