HDZ AGAINST, OTHERS FOR LOWERING WAR DISABILITY ALLOWANCES

ZAGREB, Sept 20 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament closed its Thursday session on a draft bill which lowers disability allowances for military and civilian war invalids by 14 percent, and a draft bill that limits the highest pension to net 9,343 kuna (USD1,156). The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) bench will not support the Bill on the Protection of Military and Civilian War Invalids because saving 90 million kuna (USD11 million) is not enough of a reason to limit disability allowances, HDZ MP Juraj Njavro said. The ruling coalition party benches will support the bill because it will ensure more equality and adjust the allowances to the country's economic potential. Speaking for the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) bench, Zelimir Janjic stated there were complaints of inequality because certain invalid groups qualified for some 30 categories of allowances, while others qualified for only a few. Stjepan Hanezi reported that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was not pleased allowances for war invalids were being lowered, and expressed hope that would not influence those citizens' quality of living, because of the accumulation of other entitlements, such as bonuses for orthopaedic aid or at-home care. The ruling coalition party benches also supported the draft bill on the highest pensions, which would limit the highest pension for members of parliament, government officials and the president to 9,343 kuna. The HDZ bench, however, would not support this bill either, because it includes military and other pensions. HDZ MP Ljerka Mintas-Hodak said HDZ was in favour of the part of the bill referring to politicians, but not the rest of it. Sabor will continue with its 16th session Friday. (hina) js