ZAGREB, Nov 8 (Hina) - In the continuation of Thursday's debate on draft constitutional changes in the House of Representatives, Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) deputies said they would endorse the draft and would not submit any
amendments. However, the party believes the draft is not completely defined because it does not provide for a clear definition of powers held by the President of the Republic in foreign policy nor of his powers regarding secret services, said HSS's Luka Trconic. The Democratic Party (DC) bench cannot endorse "proposals which lead toward the politicising of secret services." Therefore, it asked that regulations on intelligence services be excluded from the draft and be regulated by a law. According to DC deputies, heads of the intelligence community should answer exclusively to the lower house. Tibor Santo of the minority bench said the minorities would support the draft and sugg
ZAGREB, Nov 8 (Hina) - In the continuation of Thursday's debate on
draft constitutional changes in the House of Representatives,
Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) deputies said they would endorse the
draft and would not submit any amendments.
However, the party believes the draft is not completely defined
because it does not provide for a clear definition of powers held by
the President of the Republic in foreign policy nor of his powers
regarding secret services, said HSS's Luka Trconic.
The Democratic Party (DC) bench cannot endorse "proposals which
lead toward the politicising of secret services." Therefore, it
asked that regulations on intelligence services be excluded from
the draft and be regulated by a law.
According to DC deputies, heads of the intelligence community
should answer exclusively to the lower house.
Tibor Santo of the minority bench said the minorities would support
the draft and suggested that a regulation on 'positive
discrimination' be included in the text of constitutional
changes.
There is speculation in the Croatian national parliament on whether
the draft would be supported by a two-thirds majority, i.e. win 101
votes.
After today's debate of parliamentary benches, it was estimated
that the draft could be supported by as many as 107 deputies.
The draft will definitely be supported by the ruling coalition and
regional parties, which account for 94 i.e. 93 deputies because
Vladimir Gotovac of the Liberal Party (LS) is absent. With the five
minority votes and Zlatko Canjuga (who is a member of the Croatian
National Democrats - HND as of yesterday), who said he would vote
for the changes, the number of deputies in favour of the draft would
reach 99.
Three DC deputies and five deputies of the Croatian Party of Rights
(HSP) and the Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU) could also
vote for the draft on condition that their amendments are adopted.
The HSP/HKDU bench does not accept the introduction of the term
'regional' self-government in the Constitution nor the re-naming
of the Croatian National Sabor into the Croatian Sabor.
The parliament continues the session tomorrow.
(hina) jn rml