MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT LEAVES RULING HDZ PARTY

ZAGREB, Apr 6 (Hina) - During a session of the parliamentary Commission for Constitution, Standing Orders and Legislation, Member of the Croatian Parliament Tomislav Pavao Duka distributed copies of his letter of resignation from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) to reporters. Stressing Duka's commitment to democratic values, the letter spoke against "numerous breaches of democratic principles" he had witnessed of late, which forced him to leave the HDZ. The Commission on Constitution, Standing Orders and Legislation convened today to give a qualified interpretation of Standing Orders provisions relative to adding new items to the agenda. A session of the House of Counties was adjourned on March 25 as the Speaker and the HDZ bench disagreed over the provisions in question. The HDZ bench had tabled a motion for demoting the Speaker, Josip Manolic. Manolic refused to place the motion on that day's agenda, invoking his discretionary power under the Standing Orders. The HDZ bench then requested the Commission to give a qualified interpretation. 061640 MET apr 94