PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES BILLS STRENGTHENING LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

ZAGREB, March 20 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's House of Representatives on Tuesday started a debate on a package of laws on the decentralisation of state administration and the strengthening of local and regional self-government. The framework law, from which other laws in this package will spring - the Law on the Units of Local and Regional Self-Government - was put forward both by the government and Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) deputies. The main difference between the two proposals is that the government suggest that prefects, mayors and municipal heads continue to be elected indirectly while the HDZ seeks their direct election. Indirect elections, Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic says, would be in line with the parliamentary composition, whereas the HDZ believes that direct elections would increase the responsibility of municipal heads and mayors and give democratic legitimacy to local self-government. This solution is supported by some members of the ruling six-party coalition so that further debate and adjustment of stands on the election of local officials is expected to ensue. It was pointed out in today's debate that local self-government cannot assume greater powers, rights and obligations if the law on its financing does not provide adequate funding. Dissatisfied with the government's bill, the House of Counties, where the HDZ holds the majority of seats, today refused to send the government bill in the second reading. (hina) sb rml