PARTY BENCHES ADOPT AMENDMENTS TO LAW ON CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

ZAGREB, June 25 (Hina) - Representatives of party benches at the Croatian National Parliament House of Representatives on Friday adopted motioned amendments to the Constitutional Law on the Constitutional Court, and announced their proposals for their improvement. Most attention was paid to the elections of judges to the Constitutional Court, suggesting various models to have judges elected with as much consent by all political and other relevant factors in the society as possible. Amendments to the Constitutional Law were motioned by a fifth of MPs of all political parties, Vladimir Seks of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said in an introductory speech on behalf of the proposal-makers, while the final speech was delivered by Mato Arlovic of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Amendments accentuate the strengthening of the position and effectiveness of the Constitutional Court. They also suggest that the Constitutional Court should make decisions in the process of supervising constitutionality and legality, as well as solve appeals to the Court within a year at the most. An important change is also the possibility for the Constitutional Court to, in exceptional cases, initiate proceedings based on an appeal before the usual legal courses. Representatives of party benches described the motioned changes as solid and serious, and most frequent suggestions referred to the election of judges. MPs proposed that the Constitutional Court judges be elected in the Parliament, with possibly a two-thirds majority. They also suggested for firm criteria to be introduced into the law, which a candidate for the judge must satisfy. If possible, the proposers will try to reach a consensus on the motions from the discussion, Arlovic said. (hina) lml jn