ZAGREB, Oct 2 (Hina) - Croatian Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction Minister Radimir Cacic said on Thursday that the government's amendment about a possibility that a state official could keep up to 25 percent of the
ownership of a company was in fact moved by representatives of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) at a meeting of the ruling coalition parties.
ZAGREB, Oct 2 (Hina) - Croatian Public Works, Reconstruction and
Construction Minister Radimir Cacic said on Thursday that the
government's amendment about a possibility that a state official
could keep up to 25 percent of the ownership of a company was in fact
moved by representatives of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) at a
meeting of the ruling coalition parties. #L#
The HSS, however, dismissed such accusations, claiming that the
amendment was moved by the government and not the party.
The spokeswoman for the party, Mirjana Petir, said that all
government members were most definitely informed of the context of
the amendment before it was forwarded to parliament.
"Cacic's statement is not fair, because all those who are familiar
with the procedure know that the amendment primarily must be
discussed at the government's session and if somebody had
objections they could have presented it at the session," Petir
said. "MPs of all ruling coalition parties, and not only those of
the HSS, supported the amendment," Petir said.
Cacic's spokeswoman Ivana Prohic said the minister never moved such
an amendment. She added that the minister transferred all of his
ownership rights to a law firm back in 2000. She said the minister
believed the amendment was unnecessary and detrimental, and that
the non-adoption of this law would be even more detrimental.
A statement released from Cacic's office said that the minister had
been insisting on the passing of the law on the prevention of
conflicts of interest ever since this government came to power.
Vladimir Seks of the Croatian Democratic Union said in parliament
on Wednesday it was unacceptable for the government to favour
officials with this law. "This means that an official, for example
the minister of public works, could sign contracts with himself,
i.e. the company in which his share is under 25 percent. The image of
(Public Works Minister Radimir) Cacic and Parliament President
(Zlatko) Tomcic, of whom each has a 22 percent share in companies,
shows why this amendment was moved".
The amendment stipulates that there is no justified reason to
demand of an official to transfer management rights to another
person if he/she owns less than 25 percent of shares in a company.
The transfer is obligatory when the interest is 25 percent or more.
(hina) it