LOWER HOUSE DEBATES DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

ZAGREB, Nov 8 (Hina) - Although they had certain objections, representatives of Croatia's ruling six-party coalition supported changes to the Constitution in a debate on draft constitutional amendments on Wednesday. Deputies from the strongest coalition party - Social Democratic Party (SDP) - believe the optimum solution of parliamentary democracy has not been reached. Representatives of the leading Opposition party, Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), said they would vote for the draft amendments if their requests were adopted. #L# HDZ deputies, like deputies of the ruling six-party coalition, approve of the main direction of the draft - the transformation of the semi-presidential system into a parliamentary one. However, HDZ MPs believe the model of dissolution of the parliament has not been defined completely and they seek the possibility for a new parliamentary majority to suggest a new prime minister designate, should changes in parliamentary balance of power occur. The party believes the draft is the result of a compromise which is not based on principles and that it could become a constant generator of constitutional and parliamentary crises, and it therefore seeks a clearer definition of the powers of the President of the Republic and the government as regards foreign policy. The HDZ also believes that the draft encroaches upon the independence of the judicial authority because judges would be "on a trial period" of five years. It further opposes the introduction of the term regional self-government in the Constitution as well as the renaming of the Croatian National Sabor into the Croatian Sabor. HDZ deputies claim that the powers of the House of Counties, although somewhat increased, are still too small. The SDP is not satisfied with the way the principle of equal responsibility of the government and the parliament has been solved, and believes the government would benefit the least from the draft changes. Nevertheless, SDP deputies believe the draft would enable the decentralisation of the state as well as important reforms - social, economic and judicial ones. The Croatian People's Party (HNS)/Liberal Party (LS) bench believes the draft changes reduce the powers of the President of the Republic, limiting or cancelling them in as many as 17 articles, the most important change being that the parliament and not the President of the Republic appoints and dissolves the government. The bench also stresses that the draft changes represent a major step forward in the decentralisation of the state. However, the HNS/LS bench will suggest several amendments, said HNS's Vesna Pusic, adding the most important one was a proposal that Prime Minister and President together decide about the appointment of the heads of secret services, taking into account the opinion of the parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs and National Security. Drazen Budisa of the Croatian Social Democratic Party (HSLS) bench agreed with this suggestion. It is necessary to control each of these bodies, Budisa said, adding secret services had so far served political interests and threatened civil freedoms instead of doing what they should have been doing. Budisa announced several amendments to the draft which would make it apparent that the roles of the President and Prime Minister have been brought to the level characteristic of parliamentary democracies as well as amendments regarding increasing the powers of the upper house. It is important, Budisa said, that in this politically sensitive moment changes to the Constitution be adopted as soon as possible and with as much agreement as possible because this would relay a strong political message about Croatia's stability and political relations in the country, he said. (hina) jn rml