HDZ OBSTRUCTING AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

ZAGREB, March 26 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's House of Counties will continue functioning even if the House of Representatives votes in favour of constitutional changes which envisage the annulment of the upper house. The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) which has a majority seats in the House of Counties, decided not to accept the rescinding of the house until the Constitutional Court voices its decision a request to see whether the decision on amendments to the Constitution is justified in line with the Constitution. This decision was made without the upper house being asked for its opinion, which the HDZ said was "a violation of the constitutional and legal procedure". HDZ party bench president at the House of Representatives Vladimir Seks told reporters Monday the House of Counties "has a legitimate right to obstruct the passing of such constitutional amendments". The parliament's Committee for the Constitution, Rule Book and Political System did not hold a session today because of a lack of quorum. The session was announced to be focusing on the draft amendments to the Constitutional Law on the Constitutional Court and other issues concerning constitutional amendments. Committee chairman Mato Arlovic said the upper house has refused to discuss the decision to approach constitutional changes, which he described as an obstruction to the passing of the amendments. That the HDZ has opted to hinder the amendments was also proven by Seks's statement that he did not want to come to the Committee session today, so as not to provide "legitimacy to an unconstitutional decision", which is why there was not a quorum. (hina) lml sb