SDP SEES NO FOUNDATION FOR SEKS'S MOTIONS -- ARLOVIC

ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - The Social Democratic Party (SDP) sees no foundation in suggestions by the ruling Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) Vladimir Seks to regulate the institute of temporary disability of the President of the Republic, vice-president of the SDP, Mato Arlovic, told Hina Sunday. HDZ vice-president and parliamentary party bench president, Vladimir S,eks, on Saturday forwarded parliamentary parties a draft of the possible solution regarding the institute of temporary disability of the President of the Republic according to which the issue could be resolved either by adopting a special law or amendments to the Constitution. Commenting on Seks's statement that "It is not the form but the content that is important," Arlovic said the SDP cannot agree with this, because it was the form that determines the degree of democracy and rule of law. He added that the Parliament would impinge on the authority of the President if it would authorise itself to pass a law without the President having to confirm it. Arlovic opposed Seks's thesis that the Parliament would not derogate the Constitution by adopting a law by which the Parliament would determine the President's temporary disability. He said his party can see no reason for a consensus of all parliamentary parties to solve the problem, but rather an appropriate degree of agreement to achieve the optimal legal norms and goals. (hina) lml