ZAGREB, April 12 (Hina) - The main goal of an expert working group Croatian President Stipe Mesic entrusted with coming up with a proposal of amendments to the Constitution was to change the current semi-presidential into a
parliamentary system, and to break down last decade's highly personalised system of political decision-making, members of the group said on Wednesday. The working group held a round table in Zagreb at which they presented and elaborated the solutions President Mesic will use to motion amendments to the Croatian Constitution. According to the head of the group, former Zagreb Law School professor Veljko Mratovic, the group's proposal is a good basis for the future development of Croatia. He believes the proposal contains a more modern understanding of power-sharing because it envisages joint decision-making, co-operation, and a mutual control of the executive, le
ZAGREB, April 12 (Hina) - The main goal of an expert working group
Croatian President Stipe Mesic entrusted with coming up with a
proposal of amendments to the Constitution was to change the
current semi-presidential into a parliamentary system, and to
break down last decade's highly personalised system of political
decision-making, members of the group said on Wednesday.
The working group held a round table in Zagreb at which they
presented and elaborated the solutions President Mesic will use to
motion amendments to the Croatian Constitution.
According to the head of the group, former Zagreb Law School
professor Veljko Mratovic, the group's proposal is a good basis for
the future development of Croatia. He believes the proposal
contains a more modern understanding of power-sharing because it
envisages joint decision-making, co-operation, and a mutual
control of the executive, legislative and judicial authority.
To that effect, the working group's proposal contains a provision
according to which the President of the Republic is in charge of
ensuring, with participation and permanent co-operation on the
part of the government and parliament, that the Constitution is
respected, Mratovic said.
He pointed out President Mesic had not influenced the group's work,
nor set any conditions.
Constitutional Law professor Branko Smerdel said that in drafting
the proposal, the group took into consideration the fundamental
demand Croatian voters made at this year's parliamentary and
presidential elections for the breakdown of a system in which the
biggest power of political decision-making was embodied in one
person.
According to the group's proposal, the parliament and government's
role becomes stronger, and that of the President of the Republic is
rationalised, said Smerdel.
Former Constitutional Court president Jadranko Crnic refuted
criticism that the proposal gave the President of the Republic the
right to use veto in case he requests the Constitutional Court to
assess the constitutionality of laws he is supposed to sign, but
which according to him are unconstitutional.
"It is only the operationalisation of a solution which exists in the
present Constitution, namely that the President is obligated to
take care that the Constitution is respected," Crnic said.
One of the major amendments the working group has proposed is the
dissolution of parliament's House of Counties which, according to
the group, has not done a creditable job thus far and has been a
great cost on the state budget.
According to the group's proposal, the President of the Republic
would remain the army's supreme commander. This, the group
believes, is the best possible guarantee that the army will not be
in the function of "petty party interests."
(hina) ha mm