SABOR PASSES LAW ON LOCAL, REGIONAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

ZAGREB, April 6 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Friday adopted with a majority vote a law on local and regional self-government. The benches of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Democratic Centre (DC) and the Croatian Party of Rights/Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HSP/HKDU) voted against whereas the Croatian People's Party/Liberal Party (HNS/LS) bench abstained. The government turned down most of 115 amendments MPs moved to the law, including an amendment by the HNS/LS bench seeking direct election of municipal heads, mayors and county prefect, which is why the bench denied its support for the law. The law significantly reduces the number of councillors in the bodies of local and regional self-government and town administration and categorises towns and municipalities according to the number of residents. Under the law, town administration will no longer be set up by municipalities and towns which have less than 3,000 residents and the role of town administration will be taken over by municipal councils. The heads of some offices in the town, municipal and county administration will be selected in a public competition. (hina) rml