LOWER HOUSE OPENS DEBATE ON OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS OF OFFICIALS

( Editorial: --> 6580 ) ZAGREB, Oct 7 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor's (Parliament) House of Representatives on Wednesday continued its 33rd session with a debate on changes to the Law on Obligations and Rights of State Officials. The changes, which were proposed by the Government, widen the scope of officials to whom the Law would refer and provide that their salaries should be determined in relation to the salary of the Parliament President instead of to the salary of the President of the Republic. The Committee for the Constitution, Rule Book and Political System suggested a number of amendments to these changes, including a proposal for salaries of MPs to amount to 66 per cent of the Parliament President's salary, which is ten per cent more than the Government had proposed. Explaining the proposed changes, Administration Minister Marijan Ramuscak announced that the Government would propose that judicial officials be excluded from the proposed salary system. Along with higher salaries for MPs, the Committee proposes that the salary of the Parliament and Government Vice Presidents be equal to that of the House of Counties' President (92 per cent). According to the Committee's suggestion, the salaries of ministers would remain at 72 per cent and those of deputy ministers and prefects at 64 per cent of the Parliament President's salary. The Committee also proposes that the President of the Republic determines the salaries of officials appointed by him. The Committee's amendments were supported by the Legislation Committee which also suggested that the salary of the House of Representatives' secretary be harmonised with those of MPs. Prior to the discussion on the changes to the Law on Obligations and Rights of State Officials, the Legislation Committee President Vice Vukojevic said his Committee believed that the decision on the salary of the President of the Republic (adopted by the lower house on July 10) was a non-existing act. At the end of July, the Parliament President proposed that the Legislation Committee evaluate the decision. As the Law on Obligations and Rights of State Officials (whose implementation was postponed for August 1) is the legal basis for the adoption of the decision, the Committee has estimated that the decision was adopted unlawfully and is null and void. The Legislation Committee has therefore proposed that the Committee for the Election, Appointment and Administrative Issues, be entrusted with submitting a new draft decision on the salary of the President of the Republic. (hina) rml , 071923 MET oct 98