SEKS:HDZ WILL PASS CONSTITUTIONAL LAW WITHOUT OPPOSITION SIX VOTES

ZAGREB, Nov 24 (Hina) - The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Opposition Six parties did not manage, late last night, to reach consensus on the adoption of a Constitutional Law which should regulate the temporary disability of Croatia's President to perform his duties, as the ruling party did not want to accept that the precondition for that matter be the parliamentary consensus on the date for holding elections.#L# Vladimir Seks asserted that during Wednesday's session of the National Sabor, the HDZ would ensure a two-third majority for passing the Constitutional Law, without votes of the Opposition Six. Seks announced on Tuesday night that "an adequate body of the HDZ" would discuss and decide on when that Law would come into effect, if it was passed on Wednesday. "The HDZ accepts the consensus on the date of the election, but does not agree that it should be a prerequisite for the adoption of the Constitutional Law" Seks said last night after the meeting with Presidents of the Opposotion Six parties. Overnight HDZ will draw up a draft Constitutional Law and it will be presented to deputies to both Houses of the Sabor tomorrow, the HDZ official said last night adding that his party and parties which are not in the Opposition Six would pass that law. Seks told reporters that the HDZ and the Opposition Six had fully agreed on the text of the Constitutional Law which envisages that the temporary disability of the President of the Republic, which the Government should establish, can last a total of 60 days, and it specifies that after first 30 days of the temporary disability pass, this institute can be prolonged for another 30 days. The Opposition Six Coordinator Ivica Racan told a news conference, held by opposition leaders, that it was still unclear from when exactly the temporary disability could be reckoned and who reckons it, besides the HDZ Presidency. He expressed doubt that it would be the Government that will initiate a procedure for establishing the institute of the temporary disability, "as the HDZ's decision on these issues has too often been mentioned." Racan refuted Seks's statements, saying that the HDZ and the opposition have been discussing the date of the election from the very beginning. "I recall you that we have approached that topic with the argument of the election and that there is no one to call them," the Opposition Six Coordinator added. Drazen Budisa (of HSLS) told reporters that the institute of the temporary disability of the President to perform his duties on principle was not related to the date of the election, but under current circumstances these two things are "inseparable" and present "an important issue for the functioning of the state." Commenting on Seks's statement that on Wednesday the HDZ would pass the Constitutional Law by a two-third majority, Racan said it could be a good assessment of the HDZ, but it is the behaviour which the Opposition Six cannot accept. (hina) ms