UPPER HOUSE BENCHES COMMENT DRAFT BUDGET FOR 1999

ZAGREB, Dec 15 (Hina) - MPs of opposition benches in the Croatian National Sabor's House of Counties on Monday sharply criticised the proposed national budget for 1999. Opposition MPs assessed the draft budget as a political, exhausting, and unrealistic budget which will burden the economy, without significantly improving the situation of the socially most deprived sectors. The ruling Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) Ivana Sucec- Trakostanec disagreed, stressing that next year's draft budget was the first showing signs of economic development. The HDZ bench does not consider the draft budget to be ideal, but a realistic consequence of the previous period and the war. The HDZ bench holds the budget to be socially-oriented as far as current circumstances allow. The Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) and Christian Democrats of Medjimurje (KDM) MPs pointed to insufficient earmarking for economy and agriculture. The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) bench warns about the huge centralisation of resources. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) conveyed the same observation, and holds the budget is a pre-election oriented. The Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) bench does not see in the budget any solutions to problems in health or agriculture. The Liberal Party (LS) advocates the budget not be accepted. (hina) jn ab/ha