PARLIAMENT FAILS TO DECIDE HOW TO ELECT MEMBERS TO JUDICIAL COUNCIL

ZAGREB, July 4 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament was unable to decide on Wednesday if candidates for the State Judicial Council (DSV) would be proposed by the Judiciary Committee or elected by secret vote. MPs of the opposition's Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) left the session, leaving parliament with no quorum. Voting on the matter will take place tomorrow. Parliament should elect 11 DSV members out of 33 candidates. Representatives of most benches said there was no need for parliament to consider every candidate. They moved authorising the Judiciary Committee to draw up, based on set criteria, a list of 11 candidates and propose them to parliament for election. MPs of the HDZ disagreed, saying that "under the law, the Judiciary Committee is authorised only for the verification of the candidacy procedure, and not proposing candidates to parliament." Bench president Vladimir Seks suggested that members be elected by parliament by secret vote. A recess followed, during which the Constitution, Rule Book and Political System Committee decided the Judiciary Committee may propose the DSV candidates to parliament. According to Seks, this was a breach of the Rule Book, which urged the MPs of his party to leave the session. Before remaining without quorum, parliament adopted a set of conclusions whereby the basic criterion in the election of DSV members should be the opinion of the profession, and that women should be granted proportionate representation. At least two women should be elected. Seven members will be judges out of 21 candidates proposed by the Supreme Court, while four will be elected among candidates from the Croatian Bar Association and the Law School. (hina) ha