HSLS AND SDP SUGGEST THAT CHIEF PUBLIC AUDITOR BELONG TO NO PARTY

ZAGREB, Sept 29 (Hina) - MPs of the Croatian Social and Liberal party (HSLS) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) suggested Wednesday during a discussion at the Croatian National Parliament House of Representatives about amendments to the Law on State Auditing, that the chief public auditor be a politically independent person, belonging to no political party. Motioned amendments envisage the appointment of a chief state auditor for a period of eight years, but that he could be re- appointed to the same duty. The incumbent state auditor's mandate would be counted fro the date of his appointment. Having no criticism on the work of the State Auditing Office, Josko Kontic (HSLS) and Zeljka Antunovic (SDP) advocated the political independence of the institution and its man at the helm. "It certainly is not in our interest to have Sime Krasic dismissed, but a person who is a member of the ruling party and sits at meetings of high party bodies cannot be independent, as he/she was not hitherto," Kontic said. The HSLS holds that when electing a state auditor, the same rules must apply as when electing constitutional court judges , that is, that the auditor is elected by the Parliament and that he/she be a politically independent person. The motioned change is not appropriate ahead of elections, because it may seem as if somebody wishes to protect somebody from something, so the election of the chief public auditor should be done by the Parliament after the elections, Kontic said. The SDP accepts the mandate of eight years, but not the retrograde regulation of the mandate of the incumbent auditor, although there is no criticism regarding her work, Antunovic said. (hina) lml