Incoming Speaker of Parliament Božo Petrov comments on his plans.
MOST leader and incoming Speaker of Parliament spoke on Sunday about his plans, reports N1 on October 9, 2016.
Petrov said that MPs’ benefits would be reduced and announced penalties for those MPs who do not come to Parliament. “We have managed to abolish the benefit that MPs who serve just one day have the right to receive salaries for additional 12 months”, said Petrov. “This benefit will be available just to MPs who are in Parliament for at least one year.” “We have also suggested to reduce wages for MPs who do not show up in Parliament. I think we have agreed on the amount of 500 kuna per session for those who do not come. If that does not work, we will take an even more radical approach”, said Petrov.
MOST will insist on reforms in local and regional government units, said Petrov, adding that they will be following the example which they set in Metković. “There are municipalities which have really been responsible. However, at the moment the law says that you cannot spend more than 20 percent of revenues for salaries of officials, and more than 30 percent of local governments units do not respect that provision and spend more.”
Petrov also said that he was prepared to take over the speakership of Parliament. “Things need to be researched, and I will responsibly prepare for my duties”, said Petrov. “This is one of the three most important positions in the country, and that is the reason why we believe that it would not be good for the democratic process for all three posts to be controlled by a single party. From this post we can encourage the adoption of necessary reforms.”
Petrov confirmed that they had agreed with HDZ that MOST’s pre-election demands would be adopted first, and that only then would the government be officially formed. That should not take more than one week, according to Petrov. Five of the seven demands should be adopted in that period. “For two of the seven issues we have agreed there will be a clear plan of action in the next several months – the exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea and the licence fee for Croatian Radio Television. Other five proposals will be adopted before the government is confirmed”, said Petrov.
