SEKS SAYS CONSTITUTION HAS ELEMENTS OF SALES CONTRACT

ZAGREB, Nov 10 (Hina) - The president of the strongest opposition party assessed on Friday the recently adopted constitutional amendments had been a power struggle between the president of the republic and the prime minister. Prime Minister Ivica Racan won, said the Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) Ivo Sanader. He told reporters the amendments were only a mechanical transfer of the president's powers to the prime minister. The key reason why the amendments were initiated, to turn the semi-presidential into a parliamentary system of authority, was not fulfilled, he said. HDZ parliamentary bench president Vladimir Seks said: "The Constitution is a sad one, with elements of a sales contract" between President Stipe Mesic and the Social Democratic Party, the strongest in the ruling coalition. He added the amendments had only postponed power-related conflicts, which he believes "in a very near future (will) come up between the president of state, the prime minister, the government, and parliament," particularly over a provision on foreign affairs. HDZ yesterday voted against the adoption of constitutional amendments. (hina) ha jn