HSP/KDM UPPER HOUSE BENCH DEMANDS PROTECTION OF HOUSE

ZAGREB, March 23 (Hina) - The Croatian Party of Rights/Christian Democratic Union (HSP/KDM) bench of parliament's House of Counties on Thursday reacted to media reports on the "unanimous support" the Upper House gave a draft state budget for this year. It is not correct that the Upper House unanimously endorsed the draft budget and amendments to it, since HSP and KDM MPs had left the session, the two parties said in a statement. The two parties' MPs requested a break in yesterday's session due to the refusal of a government representative to take a position on amendments to the draft budget which had been put forward by Upper House MPs. The government's refusal to take a position on the amendments is offending and humiliating, HSP and KDM MPs say in the statement, adding they would submit a request to the Constitutional Court to protect the legality and constitutional position of the House of Counties. The government is evidently putting itself above parliament, the two parties say in the statement, reminding it had been the parties in the government who swore they would strengthen parliament's role, but were now doing the opposite. They are violating the constitutional position and role of the Upper House and parliament as a whole, the statement said. (hina) ha mm