COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTION ENDORSES BILL ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ZAGREB, Sept 4 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's Committee on the Constitution, Rule Book and Political System on Thursday unanimously endorsed the government's final bill on the prevention of conflict of interest in the exercise of public office, which is the only item on the agenda of Friday's parliamentary sitting. #L# The Committee announced several amendments, including the one stating that state officials cannot be members of company supervisory boards and that they have to sign a statement saying that they will resign in case of serious conflict of interest. A number of Committee members objected that it was necessary to specify the nature of presents and the occasions in which officials can receive them, so as to eliminate the possibility of their being discredited over receiving a present from a friend or relative. The Committee also agreed that the definition of conflict of interest should be changed. According to the Committee's proposal, a situation in which someone's private interest collides with public interest is a case of conflict of interest. All Committee members stressed the need to adopt the bill, saying that, among other things, it would help change the public perception of politicians and other public officials as corrupt people, and prevent office-holders from placing private interest above that of the public. Luka Trconic of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) suggested that the commission, which would be set up to investigate cases of conflict of interest, register officials who must give up their managing posts in companies and transfer them to third persons, and follow their financial status from the beginning to the end of their term. The President of the Republic is not on the list of state officials who fall under this law because his responsibility is within the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court alone. (hina) rml