On parliamentary majority sustainable definition

If the HDZ insists the joining EU should be decided by voters voting in Croatia, the same must be applied to the parliamentary elections

 Croatian Parliament on Thursday morning began debate on the constitutional amendments draft based on the proposition of 52 members of SDP, HNS and IDS. In his introduction Zoran Milanović (SDP) said that the proposal of a EU accession referendum decided by majority of voters who voted in Croatia, but provided the same solution is applied to the parliamentary and presidential elections, seems acceptable to the parliamentary opposition.

They however suggest the abolition of the special polling stations abroad, and that the voters from abroad regardless of the nature of their reply realize their right to vote in Croatia. Milanović said that the opposition is open to talks on the issue, - unlike the HDZ, which categorically rejects the debate on the issue. -

- The Government must provide to us a sustainable definition of the parliamentary majority - warned Milanović; it is unclear whether the government proposes to vote exclusively within the Republic of Croatia or in the embassies. He stressed that for the first time the government introduced criterion "in Croatia" in its proposal.

Vesna Pusić (HNS) is of the very same opinion, if the government and HDZ insist on a decision that the Croatian EU accession referendum should be decided by voters voting exclusively in Croatia, the same model should be applied to parliamentary and presidential elections.

The opposition additionally intercedes that the members of national minorities should enjoy the general, as well as the further right to vote, as it is officially guaranteed by the Constitution. Milanović reiterated that the Constitution forsees such an option and that one right to vote doesn't exclude another but on the other hand the "legislator plays dead" so this practice never actually came to life.

The opposition opposes the government proposal that Parliament is sending the military forces outside the Croatian borders on the basis of the greater majority rather than on the basis of two-thirds paliamentary majority.

- It is unclear what motivated the government to propose such a solution, when two-thirds majority is commonly used in any government in emergence - said Milanović, who believes that no one wants to send troops into dangerous missions without the highest approval assured by the Parliament.

Opposition representatives are even looking for a decision of not sending the army outside the boarders without previously assured signature of the President of the Republic. - President of the Republic is commander in chief and has not only the right but the responsibility to co-decide on such important decisions - explained Milanovic.

Two-thirds majority should be equally important when it comes to deciding upon the state budget and the Constitutional Court judges selection. The application of the European arrest warrant Milanović finds acceptable, as well as the proposal of signing bilateral agreements with third countries facilitate the extradiction of the Croatian citizens to their judicial authorities and vice versa. He however advocates that these solutions come into two separate articles of the Constitution. Besides, the opposition requires prescribing of the limitation of legal proceedings in the case of war profiteering

- There will be more scandals, every minute someone apprehended, running away from responsibility, but we will become EU member, and once we acomplish it, we will act more maturely in parliament and new Parliament assembly will also come to its place - said Milanović , commmenting Vladimir Šeks' (HDZ) reactions as inappropriate.