ZAGREB, May 3 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Monday discussed an electoral law model with the presidents of the Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU) and the Croatian Pure Party of Rights (HCSP). Present at the
talks was the president of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) parliamentary bench, Vladimir Seks. We talked about the need to pass an electoral law reached by consensus among Croatia's parliamentary parties, for the benefit of the Croatian people, democracy, and state, HKDU's Marko Veselica told reporters after the talks. We believe Croatia must defend its interests within the minimum of world criteria and not be a branch office of some sort of world policy, even though the factors leading it are very serious and powerful, Veselica said. As part of that, Croatia must find its interests, and end the entire battle it fought against the Serbian aggressor since 1991 an
ZAGREB, May 3 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Monday
discussed an electoral law model with the presidents of the
Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU) and the Croatian Pure
Party of Rights (HCSP).
Present at the talks was the president of the ruling Croatian
Democratic Union's (HDZ) parliamentary bench, Vladimir Seks.
We talked about the need to pass an electoral law reached by
consensus among Croatia's parliamentary parties, for the benefit
of the Croatian people, democracy, and state, HKDU's Marko Veselica
told reporters after the talks.
We believe Croatia must defend its interests within the minimum of
world criteria and not be a branch office of some sort of world
policy, even though the factors leading it are very serious and
powerful, Veselica said.
As part of that, Croatia must find its interests, and end the entire
battle it fought against the Serbian aggressor since 1991 and
ensure a nation-building, democratic, and affluent future, he
added.
According to HCSP's Ivan Gabelica, the main reason behind today's
talks with President Tudjman was the passing of a new electoral
law.
That issue is politically and legally very significant for
Croatia's safety, he pointed out.
We analysed the basic issues and agreed that, in resolving them, we
must start from the Constitution and Croatia's interests, Gabelica
said.
The greatest obstacle is the representation of the Croatian
Diaspora in parliament, and for the HCSP, the representation of
national minorities as well, he added.
We believe that, according to our Constitution, Croatian citizens
residing outside of Croatia have the same active and passive voter
right as all other Croatian citizens, Gabelica said, emphasising
this point cannot be abandoned.
How the issue will be resolved is a technical one and will be
discussed with other political parties, he added.
Starting from constitutional provisions, the HCSP believes that
national minorities do not have the right to special national
representation, but must be represented as all other Croatian
citizens, Gabelica asserted.
According to HDZ's Seks, Veselica and Gabelica outlined their views
according to basic models and institutions of the electoral law,
and agreed with the ruling party's views regarding the most
significant issues, particularly the inalienable right of Croatian
citizens residing outside the country to the active and passive
right to vote.
It is not a question of abandoning a separate electoral unit or a
separate list, he said, adding a specific list would be retained
even according to the opposition's motion.
(hina) ha