ZAGREB, Oct 10 (Hina) - Croatian parliamentary deputies on Thursday discussed a proposal by the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) on the transfer of authority. The party benches which participated in the debate (the Social Liberals -
HSLS, and the Istrian Democratic Assembly, IDS) supported the sponsor's proposal that a law be adopted to prevent mass dismissals in the state administration upon the transfer of authority.
ZAGREB, Oct 10 (Hina) - Croatian parliamentary deputies on Thursday
discussed a proposal by the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) on the
transfer of authority. The party benches which participated in the
debate (the Social Liberals - HSLS, and the Istrian Democratic
Assembly, IDS) supported the sponsor's proposal that a law be
adopted to prevent mass dismissals in the state administration upon
the transfer of authority. #L#
Social Liberal Mario Kovac stressed the need for building an expert
and relatively permanent state administration, and added that the
government had already done something in that regard by inviting
applications for assistant ministerial posts.
However, he said that the coalition government had from the start of
its mandate selected personnel as political persons, and
criticised Prime Minister Ivica Racan and several Social Democrats
for nepotism, claiming that they had helped their family members
find employment in the state administration.
The IDS's Damir Kajin suggested that along with political officials
the directors of public companies, too, make their mandates
available upon the transfer of authority. "No one can make me
believe that the director of the Power Industry (HEP) is not close
to the ruling party," Kajin said.
Presenting the HSP's bill, Tonci Tadic said it was necessary to
regulate by law the post-electoral transfer of authority in the
government, parliament, public companies, and state
administration bodies.
He stressed the need for the law to finally define political and
public officials, who he believes as professionals and experts
should not fall victim to the change of authority and lose their
jobs.
Under the bill, the transfer of authority would include ministers,
their deputies, assistants and cabinet members - a total of 290
people who won their posts on the basis of politics and who should
make their mandates available after parliamentary elections.
The HSP believes that public officials should remain at their
posts. In that way, Tadic believes, the state administration would
continue operating normally during the transfer of authority, with
a minimum of necessary personnel changes, while newly-elected
ministers would have full control over the state apparatus.
Under the bill, the transfer of authority would have to be completed
in three months from the constitution of the new parliament, under
the supervision of a six-member committee made up of members of the
ruling party or coalition and the Opposition.
The HSP agreed that the government take initiative until the second
reading of the bill, as it has been preparing its own bill
regulating the same issue.
(hina) rml sb