ZAGREB, Nov 19 (Hina) - President of the Croatian National Sabor Vlatko Pavletic and presidents of parliamentary parties and party benches will, on November 22, try to reach an agreement at a possible session of the House of
Representatives and reach a consent on the way of implementing the institution of Croatian President's temporary disability to perform his duties. This is the result of a three-hour-long, closed to the public, meeting held between Pavletic and the party bench presidents on Friday. President of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentary bench Vladimir Seks on Friday proposed two possible ways of the elaboration of the institute of temporary disability. The first and simpler, Seks said, is passing of a special law without interventions in the Constitution, and the second is an amendment to Article 97 of the Constitution, with a decree on temporary disability. Article 97 of the Constit
ZAGREB, Nov 19 (Hina) - President of the Croatian National Sabor
Vlatko Pavletic and presidents of parliamentary parties and party
benches will, on November 22, try to reach an agreement at a
possible session of the House of Representatives and reach a
consent on the way of implementing the institution of Croatian
President's temporary disability to perform his duties.
This is the result of a three-hour-long, closed to the public,
meeting held between Pavletic and the party bench presidents on
Friday.
President of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentary
bench Vladimir Seks on Friday proposed two possible ways of the
elaboration of the institute of temporary disability.
The first and simpler, Seks said, is passing of a special law
without interventions in the Constitution, and the second is an
amendment to Article 97 of the Constitution, with a decree on
temporary disability.
Article 97 of the Constitution currently regulates only the
institute of permanent disability, which is determined by the
Constitutional Court at the Government's proposal. In case of which
the President's duty is to temporarily be taken over by the
president of the parliament.
On behalf of the HDZ, Seks is to forward motions to Opposition
parties by noon Saturday. The parties are to conduct consultations
on the HDZ motions by Monday.
At noon, Monday, we are to meet again to see whether it is possible
to reach a consensus, for it is the only way for the item to be
included in the House of Representatives' session agenda, Pavletic
said.
Seks said that participants of the talks pointed to certain
constitutional and legal problems whether the issue of temporary
disability could be solved by amendments to the Constitution,
namely an organic, constitutional law.
According to coordinator of six parties of the Croatian Opposition,
Ivica Racan, the Opposition Six believe that the institute of
temporary disability can only be regulated by changes or amendment
to the Constitution.
"Wherever we go, it's about changes to the Constitution", Racan
said, stressing that a difference between a regular law and a change
to the Constitution was that for the change to the Constitution a
two-thirds majority was necessary, namely a consensus.
In case this was a law, Racan stressed it needed to be proclaimed by
the President of the Republic, which would be a legal imbroglio with
no way out.
Even though the House of Representatives is in some kind of a narrow
time passage, because its mandate expires on November 27, Seks said
there was a way out of this situation.
The Sabor Rule Book includes a possibility of shortening deadlines
for passing certain decisions. If an agreement on the context and
technique is reached, the president of the Lower House can schedule
a session for Tuesday or Wednesday, Seks said.
When asked why was he asking an explanation only now, namely whether
that meant that the President was temporarily disabled, Seks said
that the word disabled should not be used, rather restricted.
It is uncertain whether the President would call elections for, as
it was planned, December 22, by midnight Saturday, Seks said. If
this doesn't happen, the elections will not be held on December 22,
Seks added.
He reiterated that the constitutional deadline, according to which
the president needs to sign a decree on proclaiming the passed laws,
was eight days.
"Until the President signs the decree, laws cannot be enforced",
Seks said. If the deadline of eight days is exceeded the laws do not
have to be forwarded to the House of Representatives once again, for
they are enforced as soon as the President signs them, Seks
explained.
The coordinator of the Opposition Six criticised the HDZ for not
having an answer to real questions at this moment, questions also
asked by the Opposition.
This is proof that we are not ready for this situation, in which we
should not have placed ourselves to begin with, Racan said.
However, if we take some lessons out of it, it will be good for
Croatia and its stability, he added.
Racan stressed there was no answer to why the actions were not in
line with the current regulations of the Constitution. The question
of whether there are circumstances for President's permanent or
temporary disability cannot be the issue of political
speculations, Racan said.
We said we wish that this was about the President's temporary
disability, and we wish for President's recovery, Racan added.
Racan and Seks confirmed that the Opposition on Friday requested a
complete report on the President's health condition, and that the
Government was requested to give its opinion on this issue.
This was not denied, and we hope to receive an answer, Racan said
He said that on Monday it would be decided whether presidents of the
six opposition parties would depart to Brussels on November 24 and
25.
At a possible session of the House of Representatives, which is to
be held next week, the status of the Sabor's President after the
mandate of the Lower House expires, should be explained.
Everyone agreed that the President of the Sabor maintains his
status and authorities until the elections for the new president of
the Parliament, Pavletic said.
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