RULING COALITION VOICES STANCE ON ELECTORAL LAW

ZAGREB, March 6 (Hina) - The ruling six parties in Croatia on Tuesday agreed that instead of the current mixed electoral system, the clear proportional one should be used for the upcoming local elections, and the electoral right of the diaspora should be more closely determined by law. Prime Minister Ivica Racan informed reporters the six parties have definitely taken up a stance on the electoral rights of the diaspora. Double and various interpretations of Article 45 of the Constitution which speaks about the issue, and item 1 of the Article, should be formulated so that the electoral right can be equally and generally exercised by Croatian citizens over the age of 18 and in line with the law. Therefore, Racan said, a closer regulation of the subject will be left to the law, not the Constitution. The formulation does not mean that residence will not be considered as a condition for voting. As the electoral law adopted in 1995 introduced changes, including a special electoral list for the diaspora, so we should leave it up to the law to regulate the entire complex issue, such as the question to what extent should the provision on residence being a condition for voting be respected, Racan said. (hina) lml sb