ZAGREB, Oct 24 (Hina) - One of the ruling coalition's six parties, HSLS, will strictly insist on having the majority of the constitutional amendments moved by the president of the republic turned down, its president Drazen Budisa said
in Tuesday's Vecernji list daily. Commenting on President Stipe Mesic's remarks on a draft of constitutional amendments moved by parliament's committee on the constitution, Budisa said in an interview it was unacceptable for the president to appoint and propose the governor of the central national bank and constitutional judges, or to supervise and direct the activity of intelligence services. As regards Mesic's remarks that the committee's provisions on the dissolution of parliament were unclear, Budisa said HSLS (Croatian Social Liberal Party) would come forward with several versions under which the government may propose to the head of state to dissolve parl
ZAGREB, Oct 24 (Hina) - One of the ruling coalition's six parties,
HSLS, will strictly insist on having the majority of the
constitutional amendments moved by the president of the republic
turned down, its president Drazen Budisa said in Tuesday's Vecernji
list daily.
Commenting on President Stipe Mesic's remarks on a draft of
constitutional amendments moved by parliament's committee on the
constitution, Budisa said in an interview it was unacceptable for
the president to appoint and propose the governor of the central
national bank and constitutional judges, or to supervise and direct
the activity of intelligence services.
As regards Mesic's remarks that the committee's provisions on the
dissolution of parliament were unclear, Budisa said HSLS (Croatian
Social Liberal Party) would come forward with several versions
under which the government may propose to the head of state to
dissolve parliament.
"We have to defend the parliamentary system and the Croatian
National Parliament," said Budisa. He believes if Mesic's remarks
and proposals were accepted, it would be a betrayal of the voters
who were promised during February's presidential run-off, by both
him and Mesic, that "Croatia would be transformed into a state of
parliamentary democracy."
HSLS will "resolutely oppose the increasing marginalising of the
Croatian parliament." Budisa maintains that certain political
forces and media close to Mesic, but not the president himself, are
saying that parliament is contributing to the confusion.
"The time has come these gentlemen, who speak about a so-called
parliamentary democracy, were told that the strengthening of
authoritarian and non-democratic political tendencies always
begins with similar talks on the parliament," he said.
"Thus far, I haven't seen an alternative to the ruling coalition
(but) lately three parties in the coalition, HNS, IDS, and LS, have
been leading an opposition policy towards the joint government," he
said.
It would be normal if the government's most radical detractors just
stepped down, Budisa asserted, but added "their stances are
tolerated. Even Prime Minister Racan is unwilling to put these
issues on the agenda."
With regard to the upcoming Zagreb Summit, to gather EU and the
region's officials, Budisa said "Croatia must unequivocally state
in Zagreb that it will not accept being pushed into any regional
association on claims that we can approach the European Union only
as much as we cooperate mutually."
(hina) ha jn