ZAGREB, Nov 4 (Hina) - The issue of the special diaspora list, and +the representation of national minorities in the Croatian Sabor +(parliament) dominated the controversial discussion in the +Croatian National Sabor's House of
Representatives, on a bill on +the election of representatives.+ The bill was drawn up by the Croatian Social-Liberal Party (HSLS), +Liberal Party (LS), Croatian People's Party (HNS), Social +Democratic Party (SDP), and the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS).+ The majority of the opposing parties' representatives who have +drafted the bill, stressed that the diaspora list should be +cancelled, while the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) +representatives firmly reject such proposal.+ The point of the bill is to hear the nation's will in the right way, +said the president of the LS, Vlado Gotovac. According to his +opinion the cancellation of the special diaspora lis
ZAGREB, Nov 4 (Hina) - The issue of the special diaspora list, and
the representation of national minorities in the Croatian Sabor
(parliament) dominated the controversial discussion in the
Croatian National Sabor's House of Representatives, on a bill on
the election of representatives.
The bill was drawn up by the Croatian Social-Liberal Party (HSLS),
Liberal Party (LS), Croatian People's Party (HNS), Social
Democratic Party (SDP), and the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS).
The majority of the opposing parties' representatives who have
drafted the bill, stressed that the diaspora list should be
cancelled, while the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)
representatives firmly reject such proposal.
The point of the bill is to hear the nation's will in the right way,
said the president of the LS, Vlado Gotovac. According to his
opinion the cancellation of the special diaspora list is not
depriving of rights for Croatian emigrants. The special diaspora
list, said Gotovac, is breaking the Constitution and the electoral
law.
According to Gotovac, the opposition's proposal fulfils the unity
of all Croatian citizens, includes outvoting and any sort of tricks
with it.
The bill stipulates that all citizens are to be granted the equal
voting right, said Radimir Cacic (HNS and Istrian Democratic
Forum). The electorate, voting for diaspora representatives counts
as four to five votes of electorates from Croatia, said Cacic,
adding that 12 diaspora representatives were elected by only
several dozen thousands of votes, mainly by the electorates from
Herzegovina (BH), which caused a protests by several
representatives.
Ivan Jakovcic (Istrian Democratic Alliance)said that there are a
series of solutions for the Croatian emigrants to become MPs at the
Croatian Sabor. The logic of the special diaspora lists, Jakovcic
sees as the reserve base of the HDZ's list.
On the HDZ's behalf, Vladimir Seks said that the adoption of the
bill would be a step back of democratic rules of the electoral
system.
Seks said that the bill on emigrants voting in Croatia based on
their legal residence, would mean that Canadian or Australian
Croats should come to Croatia to vote, which would cause great
expenses.
Seks told the opposition that their bill on cancellation of
diaspora's lists is identical to Tim Guldiman's bill (Chief-of-
staff of OSCE's mission to Croatia) and to the bill of the European
Union.
The opposition's proposal is contradictory, said Seks. The
opposition believes that minorities have the right on two votes,
and since this is about the diaspora, they proposed to reduce their
active and passive voting right.
The suggested solution for the representatives of national
minorities in Sabor also caused numerous controversies.
Ivan Gabelica (Croatian Pure Party of Rights) considered this
double-vote proposal as unconstitutional.
(hina) it/lml