UPPER HOUSE PASSES FAMILY LAW BUT REJECTS HSS ELECTION PROPOSAL

( Editorial: --> 5076 ) ZAGREB, May 19 (Hina) - A bill proposed by the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) regarding coverage of local election campaign costs has been rejected by the Croatian National Parliament's House of Counties. Despite agreement by MPs that there needed to be a resolution to the problem of reimbursing campaign expenses, a majority of the upper house on Tuesday voted against the HSS proposal. It proposed that the Croatian Government provide funds from the state budget to cover the costs of local election campaigns, if this was not done by local government units. The House of Counties proposed the House of Representatives urge the Government to undertake legal measures to force local government bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to reimburse election campaign costs. MPs from the governing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said it was undeniable that a mechanism needed to be found for political parties to obtain funds which they were legally entitled to, but the HSS proposal would not resolve the essence of the problem. They considered that acceptance of the HSS proposal would encourage local authorities to take funds from the state budget, and not carry out their obligations. Opposition MPs supported the HSS proposal, pointing out the problems their parties were experiencing. They said they had received only 20 per cent of funds they were entitled to, a year after the last local elections were held. The House of Counties positively assessed the final Family Law bill. If the House of Representatives accepts an upper house amendment to the bill, parents will have the legal right and obligation to ban their children under the age of 16 from going out at night unaccompanied. Counties would determine what would be considered as going out at night, according to the House of Counties amendment. (Hina) jn mb /ha 191929 MET may 98