ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - According to draft constitutional changes, which were made by a working group, formed at the proposal of Croatian President Stipe Mesic, most presidential powers would be connected to the institute of
co-signature of the Prime Minister, the President's advisor on internal affairs Igor Dekanic said on Monday. Dekanic announced that President Mesic would hand the draft to Croatian Sabor President Zlatko Tomcic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan by the end of the day.
ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - According to draft constitutional
changes, which were made by a working group, formed at the proposal
of Croatian President Stipe Mesic, most presidential powers would
be connected to the institute of co-signature of the Prime
Minister, the President's advisor on internal affairs Igor Dekanic
said on Monday.
Dekanic announced that President Mesic would hand the draft to
Croatian Sabor President Zlatko Tomcic and Prime Minister Ivica
Racan by the end of the day. #L#
The advisor said the working group's draft was only the first expert
foundation after which a public debate on constitutional changes
would be opened.
According to Dekanic, President Mesic did not have any objections
to the draft and judged it good.
Dekanic, too, believes the draft is good, adding it includes the
principles of parliamentary democracy and power sharing.
"This is a proposal by a profession and not by the President's
Office," he said, emphasising the working group had studied a dozen
constitutions of other countries while drawing up the document, but
it did not consult with foreign experts.
According to Dekanic, "a democratic spirit and the most modern
European constitutional experience" have been introduced in the
draft.
The document envisages the cancellation of the House of Counties,
Dekanic said, adding that the preamble, i.e. the original bases of
the Constitution, would not be changed.
The draft also envisages the election of a special commissioner for
defence, who will be in charge of civilian control of the defence
system on behalf of the Sabor.
Dekanic dismissed fears that the proposed changes could enable the
President to block the Sabor's work.
"There is no such possibility because a very precise procedure is
envisaged. If the President does not sign a law, he sends it to the
Constitutional Court, which must make its ruling in a short period
of time," the advisor said, adding the Constitutional Court was the
only institution which can assess the constitutionality of laws.
Dekanic said a round table, at which the working group would present
its draft, would take place in Zagreb on Wednesday.
(hina) rml