ZAGREB, Sept 21 (Hina) - The Croatian House of Representatives' Committee for Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities on Tuesday adopted with a majority vote the election bill proposed by the Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ). MPs Milan Djukic, Njegovan Starek, and Furio Radin denied support for the bill, strongly criticising regulations regarding the election of minority representatives. "There is no positive discrimination here, but rather discrimination against the rights of minorities", said Starek, whereas Radin believed the bill was "restrictive toward the minorities". The three MPs advocate respect for the acquired minority rights, as well as positive discrimination of minorities and the election of more minority representatives. They also oppose the rotating mandate for the representatives of some minorities. Starek believes the reduction of the number of minority representatives (from the current
ZAGREB, Sept 21 (Hina) - The Croatian House of Representatives'
Committee for Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities on
Tuesday adopted with a majority vote the election bill proposed by
the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).
MPs Milan Djukic, Njegovan Starek, and Furio Radin denied support
for the bill, strongly criticising regulations regarding the
election of minority representatives.
"There is no positive discrimination here, but rather
discrimination against the rights of minorities", said Starek,
whereas Radin believed the bill was "restrictive toward the
minorities".
The three MPs advocate respect for the acquired minority rights, as
well as positive discrimination of minorities and the election of
more minority representatives. They also oppose the rotating
mandate for the representatives of some minorities.
Starek believes the reduction of the number of minority
representatives (from the current seven to five) demonstrates lack
of respect for their acquired rights. In a debate on the number of
minority MPs, the most frequently mentioned minority was the Serb
minority. Serb MP Milan Djukic believes the size of a minority
should be the most important criterion for exercising their
political rights.
Djukic reminded that the number of Serb representatives in the 1991
elections was 13, whereas in 1995 it fell to three MPs.
He wanted to know why the number had been reduced to only one
representative.
Furio Radin, the Italian minority representative, also believes it
is necessary to increase the number of Serb representatives.
Radin believes the most important problem is the violation of
positive discrimination.
Miroslav Kis, the representative of the Hungarian minority,
supported the bill, expressing support for positive
discrimination. The decision according to which those voting for
minority election lists cannot vote for party lists is a political
decision, said Kis, who also believed the same description could be
applied to the decision on the number of minority MPs.
Minority representatives also wanted to know when a law regulating
separate electoral units for minorities would be established and
objected to candidacy regulations.
(hina) rml