ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - A working group of the ruling six-party coalition, in charge of drawing up constitutional changes, on Monday discussed main issues which should be included in constitutional changes. A consensus between the
members of the six-party coalition will be the basis for establishing the final draft, Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic told reporters on behalf of the coalition. The intention of the coalition is to, if possible, send the project of constitutional changes to the Sabor as a joint proposal by the Government and the President of the Republic, and that it be discussed by the Sabor this autumn," Ivanisevic said. The coalition finds the powers of the President of the Republic, which have been suggested by the President's expert group, acceptable in principle. The coalition also believes an agreement on contentious issues can be reached. Ivanisevic said one of those issues was an instit
ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - A working group of the ruling six-party
coalition, in charge of drawing up constitutional changes, on
Monday discussed main issues which should be included in
constitutional changes.
A consensus between the members of the six-party coalition will be
the basis for establishing the final draft, Justice Minister
Stjepan Ivanisevic told reporters on behalf of the coalition.
The intention of the coalition is to, if possible, send the project
of constitutional changes to the Sabor as a joint proposal by the
Government and the President of the Republic, and that it be
discussed by the Sabor this autumn," Ivanisevic said.
The coalition finds the powers of the President of the Republic,
which have been suggested by the President's expert group,
acceptable in principle. The coalition also believes an agreement
on contentious issues can be reached.
Ivanisevic said one of those issues was an institute requested by
the President's group, according to which the President would be
able to request the assessment of the constitutionality of a law
before it is adopted. Contrary to the proclaimed narrowing of
presidential powers, this would represent the extension of
presidential powers to the area of legislative authority,
Ivanisevic said.
Regarding constitutional provisions on the powers and structure of
the Croatian National Sabor, the coalition's view in principle is
that the bicameral structure of the Sabor be retained.
The President's expert group, however, believes one should abandon
the bicameral concept and abolish the House of Counties.
These are some of the contentious 'details' between the two groups,
according to Ivanisevic.
The Justice Minister also said the President's expert group
bypassed the issue of the right of the Diaspora to vote. This is a
very important political issue and the coalition will not be able to
bypass it, Ivanisevic said, adding it would have to be discussed
some more.
Taking the principle that the Government should have the position
of a government in the parliamentary system as a starting point, the
coalition suggests that the government be elected in parliament.
Members of the Government would be proposed to the Parliament by the
Premier, who would be nominated by the President of the Republic.
The Government would answer exclusively to the Parliament, that is,
the House of Representatives.
The coalition's working group today agreed that in the Constitution
a distinction should be drawn between local self-government and the
dimensions of the so-called decentralised state administration,
which is now hiding in the syntagm "local self-government and
administration." This should be set apart, Ivanisevic said.
The group also tackled the issue of regional self-government, i.e.
whether the existing county administration is suitable for the
concept of regional self-government.
Changes will have to be made to the model and composition of the
State Judicial Council (DSV) and the proposal of the President's
group goes in that direction to some extent, although there are some
differences, Ivanisevic said.
The coalition's working group also agreed that the function of the
Constitutional Court should be defined more clearly.
The working group should complete its work in a week or two, and will
then present its proposal to a joint group, which should include all
members of the President's expert group and all political
representatives of the coalition.
The coalition's working group includes Vesna Pusic of the Croatian
People's Party (HNS), Tereza Ganza Aras of the Liberal Party (LS),
Luka Trconic of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Zarko Katic of
the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Emil Soldatic of the
Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), and Stjepan Ivanisevic of the
Social Democratic Party (SDP).
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