ZAGREB, Oct 11 (Hina) - The second day of parliament's 17th session focused on a bill by Ivo Skrabalo of the ruling coalition's Social Liberals (HSLS) moving changing the dates and names of some national holidays. Skrabalo's proposal
to introduce a new holiday, Independence Day on Oct 8, and making Statehood Day a memorial day strongly divided the ruling five-party coalition and the opposition. The opposition's HDZ, DC, HSP, and HKDU claimed there were more important tasks in the difficult economic and social circumstances than changing national holidays. They urged Skrabalo to abandon the bill and moved introducing a ten-year moratorium on changing holidays' dates. Skrabalo, supported by the ruling parties' benches, was adamant about his proposal, but it seemed the coalition was not completely agreed about certain dates. The strongest bench, the Social Democrats (SDP), moved celebrating Statehood Day, May 30, on June 25, when
ZAGREB, Oct 11 (Hina) - The second day of parliament's 17th session
focused on a bill by Ivo Skrabalo of the ruling coalition's Social
Liberals (HSLS) moving changing the dates and names of some
national holidays.
Skrabalo's proposal to introduce a new holiday, Independence Day on
Oct 8, and making Statehood Day a memorial day strongly divided the
ruling five-party coalition and the opposition.
The opposition's HDZ, DC, HSP, and HKDU claimed there were more
important tasks in the difficult economic and social circumstances
than changing national holidays. They urged Skrabalo to abandon the
bill and moved introducing a ten-year moratorium on changing
holidays' dates.
Skrabalo, supported by the ruling parties' benches, was adamant
about his proposal, but it seemed the coalition was not completely
agreed about certain dates.
The strongest bench, the Social Democrats (SDP), moved celebrating
Statehood Day, May 30, on June 25, when the decision on Croatia as an
independent state was made, and renaming Statehood Day Croatian
Parliament Day, given that the first multiparty Croatian
parliament held its first session on 30 May 1990.
The Peasants' Party (HSS) also favours celebrating June 25 as
Statehood Day.
Croatia presently celebrates 12 national holidays. One non-working
day costs the state $50 million, it was said during the debate.
A heated debate ensued in connection with a proposal by SDP's Pavle
Kalinic, who moved amending the Catering Law to authorise the State
Inspectorate to close on the spot a catering facility working
overtime.
Kalinic's proposal was endorsed by all parties except the HSS and
the HSLS. The government, however, did not endorse it so it will be
interesting to see which ruling coalition MPs will vote contrary to
the government's will.
Parliament wrapped a debate on a regular report on the execution of
statistical research programmes in 2000. The opposition expressed
discontent with the resignation of State Bureau of Statistics
manager Ivan Rusan, connecting it to criticism among some ministers
that statistics were "insufficiently fast" in recording positive
economic trends.
MPs endorsed amendments to the Customs Law whereby 100 percent or 80
percent lower extremity disabled persons would be entitled to a
tariff-free import of personal cars.
(hina) ha sb