ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - Opposition deputies in the Croatian House of Counties on Thursday criticised a draft act on the election of members of parliament, proposed by Vladimir Seks on behalf of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ).
ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - Opposition deputies in the Croatian House
of Counties on Thursday criticised a draft act on the election of
members of parliament, proposed by Vladimir Seks on behalf of the
ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). #L#
Much criticism referred to votes of Croatian citizens with no
permanent residence in Croatia, to the election of representatives
of national minorities, the composition of a body in charge of the
conduct of elections and to coverage of the opposition by the
electronic media.
Despite expressed objections, the Croatian national Sabor's upper
house today endorsed the draft election bill by a majority vote
following a long discussion on this matter.
Responding to the criticism, Vladimir Seks of the HDZ, that
proposed the bill, said all remarks would be considered and
adequate solutions will be included in the final draft act.
During the several-hour-long debate, opposition members of the
House of Counties accused the HDZ of having broken off unilaterally
the May agreement between the ruling party and the Opposition Six.
Seks refused such complaints and took a considerable amount of time
to remind the upper house of the chronology and course of
negotiations between the HDZ and the six opposition parties as well
as of what had been agreed upon during those talks.
The HDZ has neither breached the agreement nor has it obstructed its
implementation. However, the party has refused "an ultimatum of the
Opposition Six regarding the date of elections and amendments to
the act on the Croatian Radio and Television," Seks claimed.
Zeljko Pecek of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) maintained that
the HDZ bought time by claiming it would like to reach agreement.
Opposition deputies devoted much attention to the issue of
minorities' representatives, asserting that it was necessary to
apply a principle of positive discrimination, whereas the ruling
party warned that it would not be pursuant to the Constitution.
The opposition believes that the draft election bill did not create
conditions for a fair play in elections as voters' lists have not
yet been compiled. It also objected to a possibility that Croatia's
citizens with no permanent residence in the Republic of Croatia may
decide in the Sabor via their representatives, without sharing the
destiny with other Croatian citizens (with fixed abode in this
country).
(hina) jn ms