ZAGREB, March 31 (Hina) - Parliamentary opposition parties on Wednesday opposed passage of a new bill on culture councils under urgent procedure, saying that it would enable politicians to make crucial decisions relating to culture
which would ultimately lead to the privatisation of culture.
ZAGREB, March 31 (Hina) - Parliamentary opposition parties on Wednesday
opposed passage of a new bill on culture councils under urgent
procedure, saying that it would enable politicians to make crucial
decisions relating to culture which would ultimately lead to the
privatisation of culture.#L#
The government-sponsored bill proposed that one of the seven councils
operating within the Ministry of Culture be dissolved, namely the
Architecture and Urban Planning Council. At the recommendation of
relevant parliamentary bodies, the government abandoned its initial
proposal for the dissolution of the Culture for New Media.
The bill also envisages reduction of the number of members of culture
councils from the present seven to five, and proposes that members of
culture councils be no longer appointed by the government at the
proposal of the Minister of Culture but directly by the Minister, who
would also have powers to relieve members of their duties.
Opposition parties said that the proposed reduction of the number of
council members was only a front for dismissals and that the Minister
would have full control over council members, which they believe would
result in limiting the autonomy of decision making.
The opposition urged the government to give up its plan to pass the
bill under urgent procedure and put it up for public debate.
Marija Bajt of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said that
the present law, about two and a half years in force, had shown a lot
of shortcomings in practice, and added that the proposed bill would
ensure promotion of Croatian arts and culture and would give
professionals strong influence in decision-making processes.
The bill will be put to the vote on Friday.
(Hina) vm sb