LOWER HOUSE CLOSES DISCUSSION ON AMENDMENTS TO ZAGREB CITY ACT

ZAGREB, Feb 7 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's House of Representatives on Friday closed a discussion on draft amendments to the City of Zagreb Act regulating approval by the President of the Republic of elected county prefects and the mayor of Zagreb. Ivan Gabelica of the Pure Party of Rights (HCSP) proposed that the President be entitled to confirm only the first elected candidate for mayor. Peasant Party (HSS) deputy Luka Trconic called for annulment of the provisions under which the President has the right to approve an elected mayor of Zagreb and county prefects. According to an alternative proposal, the institute of confirming county prefects should be limited, so that if a county prefect fails to win the President's approval he can still become a prefect if he gains a two- thirds majority in a county assembly. Speaking on behalf of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) deputies, Zdravko Tomac said that the government's explanation of its rejection of the proposed amendments was not founded in the Constitution. He argued that the institute of approving county prefects annulled the right to vote. (hina) vm mm 071405 MET feb 97