CROATIAN PARLIAMENT OPPOSITION PARTIES HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE

ZAGREB, March 23 (Hina) - Croatian parliamentary Opposition parties today held a press conference to comment on yesterday's vote on a decision by the Radio and TV Council to cancel live coverage of parliamentary sessions. Drazen Budisa of the Social Liberal Party (HSLS) said that the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) was behind the Council's decision, because HDZ wanted to suppress what was going on in Parliament. He pointed out that several procedure violations were committed at yesterday's session. "It seems that violating the procedure has become a new style in conducting Parliament sessions," Budisa said. Miko Tripalo of the Social Democratic Action (ASH) seconded Budisa's argument, saying that "it is clear that HDZ is behind it all" and that such measures were aimed at marginalising the legislative authority. Commenting on the vote, Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Ivica Racan criticised the Speaker for not repeating the vote after having made a mistake in counting hands, the difference between "ayes" and "nays" being only two votes. Ivan Jakovcic, an Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) deputy, said there was also discontent among HDZ deputies, who were forced to retract, in a show of hands, everything they had said during the debate. Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) leader Ante Dapic described yesterday's events as a classic example of electioneering. He was seconded by Farmers' Party (HSS) member Ante Lovric. Answering his own rhetorical question "Where is Croatia headed for?" Independent Democrat (HND) Stipe Mesic said the nation was bound for "a manipulative democracy, namely, dictatorship." Asked what the Opposition was going to do next, Budisa said they would try and get the Speaker to repeat the vote. "The Croatian Parliament is subjected to censorship," he said. He added that the key media were in the hands of people who were not exactly famous for their tolerance. (hina) vm as 231506 MET mar 95