ZAGREB, Nov 3 (Hina) - Ahead of a parliamentary debate on draft constitutional changes, which is scheduled for November 8, the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) will probably submit an amendment which will be supported by the
Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) as well. HSLS deputy Dorica Nikolic told Hina the HSLS would not give up its request regarding the withdrawal of Article 104, which regulates that the president of the republic can, with the co-signature of the premier and upon consultations with the heads of parliamentary party benches, dissolve the parliament. The HSLS has on several occasions reiterated that it will insist on a precise constitutional definition of all cases in which it is possible for the president of the republic to dissolve the parliament. "We are making efforts to establish a parliamentary system in which the government will answer exclusively to the parliament and not any longe
ZAGREB, Nov 3 (Hina) - Ahead of a parliamentary debate on draft
constitutional changes, which is scheduled for November 8, the
Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) will probably submit an
amendment which will be supported by the Croatian Party of Rights
(HSP) as well.
HSLS deputy Dorica Nikolic told Hina the HSLS would not give up its
request regarding the withdrawal of Article 104, which regulates
that the president of the republic can, with the co-signature of the
premier and upon consultations with the heads of parliamentary
party benches, dissolve the parliament.
The HSLS has on several occasions reiterated that it will insist on
a precise constitutional definition of all cases in which it is
possible for the president of the republic to dissolve the
parliament.
"We are making efforts to establish a parliamentary system in which
the government will answer exclusively to the parliament and not
any longer to the president of state. If the government and the
premier answer to the parliament, the president of state can not be
given an unconditional discretionary right to dissolve the
parliament and this must be precisely defined," Nikolic explained
the HSLS's request.
Conditions under which the head of state could dissolve the
parliament and which the HSLS insists on are defined by other
articles (109b and 113), Nikolic said, adding there was no need to
keep Article 104, which she described as "a relict of the semi-
presidential system."
HSP's Anto Djapic said he would support the HSLS's amendment.
As regards the other disputable provision - control of intelligence
services - President Mesic is closer to the option that this issue
be regulated by the law and not the Constitution. Therefore it is
possible that an amendment to this provision be submitted in
agreement with the government as well.
The President's advisor on internal affairs, Igor Dekanic, said
President Mesic had nothing against the current solution in the
draft on constitutional changes (the president of state controls
military intelligence services), however, he favoured the option
that this issue be regulated by a law on national security, which
was being completed.
In political terms, Dekanic said, the government is in charge of the
operational control of the intelligence system, the parliament is
in charge of legislative control and the president of state in is
charge of the operational control of the entire system.
(hina) jn rml