Government rejects all opposition amendments to controversial legislation

More than 300 amendments were submitted in Parliament on Friday-by both the left and the right-to a package of proposed bills on spatial planning, construction, and energy efficiency.

While the ruling majority also introduced amendments to its own legislation, the SDP submitted 250-one for each article in the proposed law. In other words, they sought the complete redaction of the entire bill. However, the government accepted only the amendments put forward by its own members.

SDP MP Arsen Bauk said: "We didn't submit 250 amendments because we're stubborn but because this law is fundamentally flawed. If it had fewer shortcomings, we'd try to fix them. If the flaws were only partial, we'd address them partly. But in this case, the foundation itself is wrong. It is written in such a way that every article leads to the same outcome: investors gain all the power while citizens lose their rights. That's why the entire law must be scrapped."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Property Branko Bačić countered that lies and misinformation are being used to scare the public into believing the law would enable the plundering of inherited property-claims he described as completely unfounded.

A vote is scheduled for Monday.