ZAGREB, July 23 (Hina) - Vladimir Seks, a senior official of the strongest opposition party (HDZ) said at a news conference on Tuesday that agreement had been reached on key issues regarding a constitutional bill on the right of
minorities. Asked by reporters whether the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) would support the bill on national minorities in the Sabor, HDZ bench head Seks said that agreement had been reached over key issues in this regard.
ZAGREB, July 23 (Hina) - Vladimir Seks, a senior official of the
strongest opposition party (HDZ) said at a news conference on
Tuesday that agreement had been reached on key issues regarding a
constitutional bill on the right of minorities. Asked by reporters
whether the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) would support the bill
on national minorities in the Sabor, HDZ bench head Seks said that
agreement had been reached over key issues in this regard. #L#
According to Seks, head of the bench for the Social Democratic Party
(SDP) Mato Arlovic as the representative of the ruling coalition
had ensured that members of minorities would be allowed to vote for
minority representatives or for candidates on general listings but
not both.
Seks announced that the HDZ leadership would consider, as he said,
one more element in the bill in order to support the bill in the
Sabor. Seks added that this referred to regulating the election of
representatives in the Sabor for Croatian citizens who live outside
Croatia. The ruling coalition should oblige the Sabor in line with
the new election law to allow the election of at least three MPs to
represent the "Diaspora" on the principle of unfixed quotas, Seks
believes.
Seks estimated that the Prime Minister designate had not resolved
two major issues in convening his new cabinet - the role and
authorities of non-partisan representatives who may be given key
positions in the government and also of the Croatian Peasants'
Party's reservation to enter the government while attempting to
secure more influence.
Seks was asked to comment on the postponement of the parliamentary
session which was supposed to take a vote of confidence in the new
government and its programme. Seks estimated that Racan will in the
end manage to form a new cabinet.
Seks informed journalists that the HDZ bench had lodged a request
with the Constitutional Court to examine whether the agreement
between Slovenia and Croatia on the Krsko nuclear power plant was in
compliance with the Constitution.
The agreement contains provisions that transfer constitutional
authority to the arbitration court - an international body outside
Croatia's legal system - with regard to obligatory state decisions
binding for Croatia.
(hina) ms sp