ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - Describing Wednesday's dissolution of the House of Counties as an act of political violence, the upper house's chairwoman Katica Ivanisevic said she was very concerned about the further development of
democracy in Croatia. While Europe and the world are introducing the bicameral system, Croatia is going backward, Ivanisevic said. Commenting on arguments supporting the dissolution of the upper house, she said that bicameral parliaments were not part of the past but the future. The House of Representatives and the House of Counties were separate units, with different powers and their mutual relations were neither of subordination nor of superiority, she said. "One chamber is dissolving the other and terminating the mandates of deputies who were legally elected and I therefore believe this is an act of political violence," Ivanisevic said. The House of Counties' secretary Antu
ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - Describing Wednesday's dissolution of the
House of Counties as an act of political violence, the upper house's
chairwoman Katica Ivanisevic said she was very concerned about the
further development of democracy in Croatia.
While Europe and the world are introducing the bicameral system,
Croatia is going backward, Ivanisevic said. Commenting on
arguments supporting the dissolution of the upper house, she said
that bicameral parliaments were not part of the past but the
future.
The House of Representatives and the House of Counties were
separate units, with different powers and their mutual relations
were neither of subordination nor of superiority, she said.
"One chamber is dissolving the other and terminating the mandates
of deputies who were legally elected and I therefore believe this is
an act of political violence," Ivanisevic said.
The House of Counties' secretary Antun Rajcevac said today that
after the dissolution of the upper house its deputies would
continue receiving their salaries for another year and no one of the
upper house personnel would be fired.
Under the law, upper house deputies have the right to receive their
full salaries six months after the termination of their mandate,
and one half of the amount of their salary for another six months in
case they have found a new job.
No one from the upper house's personnel will be fired. Most of them
have been interviewed and will be given new posts in the House of
Representatives and some will be sent into retirement, Rajcevac
said.
(hina) rml