ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - Leaders of six parties, which make up the ruling coalition, and heads of their parliamentary benches on Wednesday reached agreement on all contentious issues relating to the process of changing the Croatian
Constitution, said a participant in their meeting.
ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - Leaders of six parties, which make up the
ruling coalition, and heads of their parliamentary benches on
Wednesday reached agreement on all contentious issues relating to
the process of changing the Croatian Constitution, said a
participant in their meeting.#L#
"We have reached agreement so that there are no obstacles for draft
amendments to go into a parliamentary procedure," said Mato
Arlovic, the head of the SDP (Social Democratic Party).
On Friday the Croatian national parliament will commence a
discussion on constitutional changes, and the entire process
should be completed in November.
After the three-hour meeting, behind the closed doors, Arlovic told
reporters that there were different approaches to some issues which
would further be considered by the parliamentary benches.
He confirmed that draft amendments retained a solution on (the
possibility for the Government to propose) the dissolution of the
Sabor, which had in recent days stirred up misunderstanding between
coalition partners SDP and HSLS (Croatian Social Liberal Party).
This change envisages that following he Government's proposal,
Croatian President can dissolve the Sabor's House of
Representatives if he gets the signatory of Premier and has
previously consulted heads of the parliamentary benches.
A solution also remains that deputies of the upper house - the House
of Counties - can decide by themselves on the dissolution of this
house so that early elections can be called.
In case that government cannot be constituted after an election and
after all constitutional time terms have been used, the President
can appoint a caretaker government, dissolve the House of
Representatives and call pre-term elections.
One of the harmonised amendments reads that President of the
Republic will be able to appoint a new premier designate and the
Sabor can vote confidence in (new ) Government within 30 days after
a vote of no confidence was cast in the previous Government or after
that previous Government tenders resignation for any other
reason.
In case the parliament fails to do so within 30 days, the resigned
premier proposes to the President to dissolve the Sabor and the head
of state calls early elections.
Arlovic denied allegations about the disagreement between
coalition partners on the Constitution's chapter on the regional
self-management.
"There was no disagreement about the contents but about the title
which has been defined," he added.
(hina) jn ms