ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentary bench, Vladimir Seks, on Friday called on all Opposition parties to meet for talks next week outside of Zagreb in order to reach a consensus on
the new election law, as, he said, a consensus on the matter was close at hand. Seks sent a letter with this proposal to the Opposition Six, as a reply to the request by their coordinator Luka Trconic that before talks resumed the HDZ submit its stand in writing on the proposals presented by the presidents of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) at their talks with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. In a statement to the press Seks said members of a working group which had drawn up the basic principles of the new election law would also be invited to the meeting. He did not want to say what would ha
ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Democratic
Union (HDZ) parliamentary bench, Vladimir Seks, on Friday called on
all Opposition parties to meet for talks next week outside of Zagreb
in order to reach a consensus on the new election law, as, he said, a
consensus on the matter was close at hand.
Seks sent a letter with this proposal to the Opposition Six, as a
reply to the request by their coordinator Luka Trconic that before
talks resumed the HDZ submit its stand in writing on the proposals
presented by the presidents of the Croatian Social Liberal Party
(HSLS), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Peasants'
Party (HSS) at their talks with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman.
In a statement to the press Seks said members of a working group
which had drawn up the basic principles of the new election law
would also be invited to the meeting.
He did not want to say what would happen if the Opposition Six
refused the invitation. Also, he did not exclude the possibility
that President Tudjman might again meet Opposition leaders for
talks.
In the letter to the Opposition Six, Seks recalled the elements
which had been agreed on between President Tudjman and Opposition
Six. President Tudjman has especially welcomed the Opposition's
decision to accept constitutional regulations on the
representation of Croatian citizens who do not have permanent
residence in Croatia.
Prompted by such a stand, President Tudjman proposed, as a
concession on HDZ's part, that instead of the current 12
parliamentary representatives, the new law envisage six to seven
Diaspora representatives.
President Tudjman assessed as interesting a proposal by HSLS
president Drazen Budisa that Diaspora representatives be elected
from party lists proportionate to the success of each list, within a
proportional election system with Croatia as one electoral unit.
However, the technique of election of those representatives will
depend on which election system will be applied, he added.
President Tudjman also believes that all parliamentary parties
should reach an agreement on the Opposition proposal.
The working group's proposal opposes the proportional election
system with a single electoral unit and suggests that it be applied
in ten electoral units. The proposal has been supported by many
parties and a relevant portion of the public, Seks said.
A consensus on the election law is important not only for further
development of Croatia's multi-party system and democracy but also
to demonstrate that integration into European associations is one
of Croatia's basic national interests.
(hina) rml