MOST MP says Constitutional Court ruling is a major win for the opposition

In its decision, the Constitutional Court abolished the segment of the Rules of Procedure of the Croatian Parliament that refers to the powers of the parliament to give credible interpretations of certain laws, with the explanation that this is the exclusive competence of the courts. Additionally, the Court accepted the opposition's view that every representative can propose changes to the Rules of Procedure, thus rejecting the argument of Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and the HDZ-led majority in the Constitution Committee that only the Committee has the right to propose changes.

Following a decision by the Constitutional Court regarding the possibility of MPs to propose changes to the rules of procedure of the Croatian Parliament, which was supported by 68 MPs, MOST MP Marija Selak Raspudić called a press conference on Tuesday, heralding the court's decision as a major victory for the opposition. Selak Raspudić said that the decision exposes and finally puts an end to the arbitrary nature by which Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and the Committee for the Constitution, Rules of Procedure and Political System, systematically violate the rights of opposition MPs.

She noted that when she proposed reforming the system of work in parliament in March, Jandroković had blocked her proposal from even making the agenda, adding that upon warning him that this was unconstitutional, Jandroković had referred her to the Committee for the Constitution, which, as expected, confirmed Jandroković's decision. Selak Raspudić concluded that this made it absolutely clear that the Committee does not serve its function of protecting the rights of all members of parliament, but instead serves as a vast political tool in the hands of the ruling majority.

Asked to comment on the Court's decision and Selak Raspudić's assessment that this was a major victory for the opposition, HDZ MP Damir Habijan said that the HDZ would respect the Court's ruling by did not view it as a win for the opposition. Habijan went on to say that he was unable to shake the impression that the opposition has a disturbing fixation on Parliament Speaker Jandroković, suggesting that its roots might be found in Jandroković's electoral win over Selak Raspudić's husband, Nino Raspudić, in the 2nd constituency at the last parliamentary elections.

Source: HRT