ZAGREB, Sept 19 (Hina) - The Croatian Movement for Democracy and Social Justice (HPDSP) supports the decentralisation of the state and suggests the dissolution of counties and their joining into six regions, as well as the dissolution
of the House of Counties, the reduction of the number of municipalities, weaker central authority and stronger local self-government. According to this proposal, six regions should be established from the current 21 counties: Dalmatia, Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Istria, Central Croatia - including Lika, Kordun and Banija, Slavonia, Zagorje and the City of Zagreb. This way, the already historically established regions would be able to develop their administration, economy, science and culture in line with the interests of the entire Croatia, the Movement believes. The Movement also proposes that the number of municipalities be reduced from the current 500 to 100 and that the government
ZAGREB, Sept 19 (Hina) - The Croatian Movement for Democracy and
Social Justice (HPDSP) supports the decentralisation of the state
and suggests the dissolution of counties and their joining into six
regions, as well as the dissolution of the House of Counties, the
reduction of the number of municipalities, weaker central
authority and stronger local self-government.
According to this proposal, six regions should be established from
the current 21 counties: Dalmatia, Primorje-Gorski Kotar and
Istria, Central Croatia - including Lika, Kordun and Banija,
Slavonia, Zagorje and the City of Zagreb.
This way, the already historically established regions would be
able to develop their administration, economy, science and culture
in line with the interests of the entire Croatia, the Movement
believes.
The Movement also proposes that the number of municipalities be
reduced from the current 500 to 100 and that the government's
authority be reduced and the regional self-government
strengthened.
The number of ministries should be reduced to about a dozen, the
offices of assistant ministers should be abolished and
administration radically reduced. Every ministry should in keeping
with the Movement's proposal establish an expert council pooling
scientists, cultural workers and experts on economy, who would make
decisions together with ministers.
Apart from dissolving the House of Counties, the HPDSP also
suggests radical cuts in the state budget, freeing economy and
other areas of the "state tutorship" and reducing the salaries or
pensions of MPs and state officials so that, with the exception of
the Presidents of the State and Government, university professors
have the highest salary.
The movement also advocates the autonomy of universities and other
cultural institutions and the establishment of a senate which would
provide advice to the parliament's House of Representatives.
According to the HPDSP, the current state organisation is highly
centralised, counties are completely dependent on the central
authority and the House of Counties is "a parasite on the state
budget," which calls for the necessary "rational changes."
(hina) jn rml