50 NEWLY-ELECTED ZAGREB CITY COUNCILLORS SWORN IN

ZAGREB, Jan 2 (Hina) - Fifty newly-elected members of the Zagreb City Assembly were sworn in at a session on Tuesday. The session, held in line with a government decision of December 4 last year, was opened by Administration Minister Davorin Mlakar with a minute of silence in honour of the fallen in the war. Also present were the outgoing Mayor Branko Miksa, several members of Parliament, leaders of parliamentary parties and directors of Zagreb public companies. The Mandate Commission, comprising three representatives of the opposition parties and two of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), was elected after a recess during which its composition was agreed upon. The recess was preceded by a heated debate after the opposition bloc proposed four representatives to the commission and invited the ruling HDZ to propose one. During discussion on a report by the Mandate Commission, which was later adopted by a majority of the vote, opposition councillors challenged the mandate of Predrag Haramija because he had been elected to the Assembly as an HSS representative and in the meantime joined the HDZ. HDZ councillors disputed the activity of the opposition coalition. The majority of councillors supported a decision on the application of the temporary statute of the City of Zagreb and the temporary standing orders of the City Assembly, rejecting proposals that a required two-thirds majority vote be annulled and that Zagreb city leaders be elected by secret ballot. The Commission for Election and Appointments was elected with a majority of the vote. According to the results of the 29 October 1995 election, the HDZ won 17 seats, the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) 10, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) 9, the Croatian Independent Democrats (HND) 4, the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) 3, while the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), the Action of Croatian Social Democrats (ASH) and the Croatian People's Party (HNS) won two seats each, and the Croatian Party of Rights 1861 (HSP 1861) won one seat. (hina) vm 021430 MET jan 96