IF DEMOCRACY STARTS IN SABOR, IT MUST BE DEMOCRATISED FIRST - TOMCIC

ZAGREB, Feb 1 (Hina) - Zlatko Tomcic, a candidate for president of parliament's House of Representatives, on Tuesday told Hina the Lower House must be democratised if it was to be the starting point of the democratisation of society. Democracy is a procedure, and procedure is regulated by the Rule Book, Tomcic said, adding the Rule Book therefore had to undergo significant changes relative to work and decision-making in the Lower House. Speaking about Question Time, Tomcic said it should last longer to enable all interested MPs to put questions to members of the government, while the time for putting questions and receiving answers should be rationalised. Tomcic also believes the institute of rebuttal should be introduced, to make parliament's work more dynamic. Parliament's work should focus on committees, he added. As regards the Rule Book, Tomcic said he would particularly advocate a rule stipulating that voting on an item on the agenda should follow immediately after discussion is over. This will ensure consistent functioning, he added. Tomcic looks forward to good cooperation with the Opposition. He and his colleagues will not reject good Opposition motions, everything in the general interest and the interest of democratic progress and all-round prospects for Croatia will be accepted, he said. Tomcic expects the Lower House will elect him its president at tomorrow's constituent session. (hina) ha