ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's House of Representatives on Wednesday and adopted amendments to the Constitution.
ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's House of
Representatives on Wednesday and adopted amendments to the
Constitution. #L#
One hundred and three MPs voted for the constitutional changes, 35
voted against the move. There were abstentions. In order to pass
amendments to the Constitution, the move has to receive two-thirds
of votes of MPs -- 101 votes.
Representatives of all parties voted for the constitutional
changes, except for MPs of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ),
Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) and Croatian Christian Democratic
Union (HKDU).
The annulment of the House of Counties is the main change the
amendments stipulate.
During a discussion which preceded the voting, most MPs supported
the rescinding of the upper house, explaining a one-chamber
parliament will be more effective, and taking into consideration
the size of its population, its tradition and state order, Croatia
does not need a two-chamber parliament. The House of
Representatives will thus be renamed into Croatian Parliament.
In line with the newly adopted amendments to the Constitution,
Croatian citizens have a general and equal voting right after
turning 18 years of age, in line with the law. Opposition MPs held
that voting right should be regulated by the Constitution, not the
law. They were concerned that members of the diaspora and Croats in
Bosnia-Herzegovina would have no right to vote. Most MPs, however,
hold that citizens with residence in Croatia should have voting
right, so that those who do not live in Croatia would not be making
important decisions for the life of Croatian citizens who do.
An Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) draft amendment that
Slovenians, Bosniaks and Romany be included as national minorities
in the Constitution's preamble, was dismissed, so they remain in
the preamble as "others".
Pursuant to the adoption of the amendments, the mandate of the
Supreme Court's president has ceased, as have those of the
president and members of the State Judicial Council.
With a two-third majority of votes, the House of Representatives
adopted the Constitutional Law on implementing the Constitution,
which sets deadlines for harmonising certain laws and regulations
with the constitutional provisions.
The Constitutional Court today dismissed a complaint by the largest
opposition party, the HDZ, that it annul the lower house decision on
bidding for amendments to the Constitution. The Court said it does
not have the right to perform a prior control of any act, including
the Constitution, before the process in completed. HDZ
representatives have said they might file a constitutional suit
after the process is completed and the amendments adopted.
(hina) lml sb