ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor has decided to tighten the policy regulating the accommodation of parliamentary deputies living outside of Zagreb and to cut funds for that purpose. Although this issue has not been
fully regulated yet, it is certain that deputies will be allowed to stay only in cheaper Zagreb hotels and only in exceptional situations. The Sabor believes that deputies attending parliamentary sessions should use flats allocated for official purposes or rent smaller flats and only in cases when this is not possible stay in hotels. Which hotels they will chose will depend on what the Sabor will decide after it conducts a public bid and selects the most favourable offer. In any case, Sabor officials say, this will put an end to cases when as much as 700 kuna (about DM180) was paid from the parliament's budget for one overnight stay in a hotel. This amount could soon be halved g
ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor has decided to
tighten the policy regulating the accommodation of parliamentary
deputies living outside of Zagreb and to cut funds for that
purpose.
Although this issue has not been fully regulated yet, it is certain
that deputies will be allowed to stay only in cheaper Zagreb hotels
and only in exceptional situations.
The Sabor believes that deputies attending parliamentary sessions
should use flats allocated for official purposes or rent smaller
flats and only in cases when this is not possible stay in hotels.
Which hotels they will chose will depend on what the Sabor will
decide after it conducts a public bid and selects the most
favourable offer.
In any case, Sabor officials say, this will put an end to cases when
as much as 700 kuna (about DM180) was paid from the parliament's
budget for one overnight stay in a hotel. This amount could soon be
halved given that there are hotels in downtown Zagreb which charge
350 kuna for an overnight stay. These are less representative but
nevertheless tidy and comfortable hotels.
That this 'new accommodation policy' could mean significant
economies is proved by the fact that hotel accommodation is
currently used by 92 deputies from both parliamentary houses, of
whom more than two thirds - 67 - are staying in hotels which charge
700 kuna per overnight stay.
Only deputies whose place of residence is located more than 50 km
from Zagreb will be able to use rented flats or hotel
accommodation.
Those whose places of residence are less than 50 km from Zagreb will
be given bonuses for cars, which, according to current proposals,
would be set at 30 percent of the price of one litre of petrol per
kilometre.
The Sabor was forced to tighten the accommodation policy due to high
costs. According to parliament data, costs for one deputy in a
working week can in some cases reach as much as 6,500 kuna or DM1,670
(including daily allowances, transport costs, overnight stay).
As parliamentary sessions can last two-three weeks this amount
reaches figures which are staggering in Croatian circumstances.
It is worth reminding that deputies are also entitled to free public
transportation - by plane, train or bus.
(hina) rml