LOWER HOUSE DEBATES ELECTORAL BILL

ZAGREB, March 21 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's lower house on Wednesday held the first reading of a bill on the election of members to representative bodies in units of local government and self-government, which replaces the mixed electoral system with proportional representation, and has a five-percent electoral threshold. According to Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic, the introduction of the proportional representation system will eliminate difficulties in shaping electoral units as it introduces one electoral unit. The bill stipulates that regular elections are held every four years, and that early mandates automatically end with regular elections. MPs objected to the adoption of a new electoral law only two months ahead of local elections but believe the government will accept their remarks and suggestions before the second reading. Opposition MPs, as well as some from the ruling six-party coalition, for instance from the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), were very disappointed at the government's rejection of a proposal whereby prefects, mayors and municipal heads are elected directly. They said the rejection betrayed one of the promises made ahead of the January 2000 elections. The sponsors of the bill said the indirect election of local officials was in keeping with the proportional representation electoral system in which precedence goes to parties' electoral lists and not individuals. (hina) ha sb