HDZ PRESIDENCY ENDS SESSION

ZAGREB, Nov 23 (Hina) - The House of Representatives and the House of Counties will hold sessions Wednesday and I believe a consensus and agreement will be reached. If this is not achieved, we hold that a two-thirds majority will vote on the Constitutional Law on the temporary disability of the President of the Republic to perform his duties, vice-president of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and president of the HDZ parliamentary bench, Vladimir Seks, told reporters following a session of the HDZ Presidency Tuesday night. The HDZ Presidency gave an imperative mandate to HDZ's negotiator Vladimir Seks to continue negotiations with the rest parliamentary parties. The Presidency established a line beyond which Seks is not allowed to go in negotiating with the Opposition. Namely, the HDZ is resolute in the view that the Government should initiate proceedings for establishing temporary disability of the President within 30 days from voting on the Constitutional Law at the latest. The Constitutional Court should decide on the issue within 24 hours, but it can only reach a decision on temporary disability, that is, on what the government motions, Seks said. The HDZ is also resolute in the standpoint that temporary disability can last 30, 60 or 90 days, and only after this deadline can the Government suggest the initiation of the procedure for re- establishing temporary disability or permanent disability. The ruling party will certainly not initiate the procedure for establishing permanent disability of the President, nor would it suggest that the Government does so, Seks said. According to him, in case a two-third majority vote, necessary for adopting laws in the Parliament, is not reached, there are other mechanisms and scenarios to ensure the regular functioning of all units of state authority and duties of the President. Seks declined to answer which scenario this would be. HDZ vice-president Zlatko Canjuga stressed the HDZ Presidency again called on all parties in negotiations to take into consideration state and national interests in these times. (hina) lml