ZAGREB, March 22 (Hina) - All parliamentary branches in the Sabor's House of Representatives on Thursday supported the Government's draft national programme for the fight against corruption, and voiced a series of remarks to improve
the proposed text. How grave this problem is in Croatia can be seen from figures released by the government under which from 1992 to 1997, 3,316 criminal charges were pressed for corruption. In that period, 1,408 persons were accused, 570 were convicted only 13 are serving sentences for that crime. The parliamentary debate pointed to the importance of strengthening repressive measures as well as prevention in the fight against corruption. MPs said analyses of the "scenes of corruption" should be carried out particularly in judiciary, police, among politicians, state administration, public health and educational system. Representatives of the Democratic Centre (DC), cautioned th
ZAGREB, March 22 (Hina) - All parliamentary branches in the Sabor's
House of Representatives on Thursday supported the Government's
draft national programme for the fight against corruption, and
voiced a series of remarks to improve the proposed text.
How grave this problem is in Croatia can be seen from figures
released by the government under which from 1992 to 1997, 3,316
criminal charges were pressed for corruption. In that period, 1,408
persons were accused, 570 were convicted only 13 are serving
sentences for that crime.
The parliamentary debate pointed to the importance of
strengthening repressive measures as well as prevention in the
fight against corruption. MPs said analyses of the "scenes of
corruption" should be carried out particularly in judiciary,
police, among politicians, state administration, public health and
educational system.
Representatives of the Democratic Centre (DC), cautioned that
nobody would like to invest into a corrupt society where decisions
are made in accordance to bribery and graft rather than on the basis
of knowledge and competitiveness.
In relation to the necessary implementation of repressive measures
in the fight against corruption, representatives of the Croatian
Social Liberal Party (HSLS) maintained that the act should clearly
define the respect for constitutional rights and freedoms of
citizens so that no centre of power which might encroach on the said
rights be created.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) suggested the ban on conclusion
of contracts with the state for government officials or their
family members who possess companies. According to data available
to this party, such kind of lobbying is more frequently treated in
the world as "blatant corruption".
The Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) believed that the corruption
at the lowest levels could be prevented by marking bank-notes for
six months.
The agenda of the lower house includes other laws in the package of
measures to counter corruption.
(hina) sb ms