SABOR TO DISCUSS MORE THAN 40 ITEMS AT AUTUMN SESSION

ZAGREB, Sept 19 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament will consider more than 40 bills at its first autumn session, it was decided after a brief debate on the agenda of the 16th parliamentary session on Wednesday. The benches of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) opposed the adoption of a package of social bills in urgent procedure. The HDZ whip Vladimir Seks warned the proposed bills did not meet the requirements for urgent procedure as regulated by the parliament's Rule Book. The HSP bench believes it is pointless to discuss a social reform until the parliament formulates the overall social policy, especially because the package will not result in any significant budgetary economies, said Tonci Tadic. Independent MP Ivo Loncar requested that Speaker Zlatko Tomcic explain why a commission in charge of probing into possible wrongdoing in the purchase of wheat had not been formed yet. Tomcic said he would propose that such a commission be set up as soon as he received suggestions regarding its composition from MPs, which Loncar did not consider a satisfactory answer, objecting that the Speaker was violating the Rule Book. The session continued with question time, during which government members will be answering MPs' questions. (hina) rml