National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details
Wednesday, 17 June 2015
First Special Hearing of the Action Group for Political System Reform
The Action Group for Political System Reform held its first special hearing where the independent MPs and representatives of the SDA Sandzak – Party of Democratic Action Parliamentary Group and the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina Parliamentary Group submitted their proposals for the reform of the political system.
Independent MP Dr Janko Veselinovic said that the political system needs a better definition of Serbia, military neutrality and language and script. He believes that, in the area of human rights and freedoms, the presumption of innocence and the right to a just trial need to be better defined. Among the 12 laws Veselinovic suggests should be amended is the Law on the Election of MPs so that the number of 250 MPs be reduced to somewhere between 150 and 170. He specified that a proportional, personalised election system should be instituted, with open electoral lists and between 10 and 15 electoral units, the Law on Local Elections should be amended to allow for a direct election of councillors and municipal presidents and the authority of local self-governments and Vojvodina should be strengthened. He also suggests amending the Criminal Code so as to ensure fair elections, sanction so-called “bought votes” and set up such penalties which would include banning the operation of political organisations.
Independent MPs Zoran Zivkovic and Vladimir Pavicevic announce that through the amendments to the political system they propose they will urge for a reduction of the number of MPs to 150, 100 of which would be elected using the majority system and 50 using the proportional system, and a bigger electoral consensus for coalitions. The propose an amendment of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, but that should be the first task of a new National Assembly legislature, after which the MPs who had adopted the supreme legal act would continue with their duties and work as MPs. Zivkovic and Pavicevic propose the introduction of a chancellor system of Government i.e. allowing the Prime Minister to change the ministers of his/her own accord if unsatisfied with their work, without a parliamentary ruling. Zivkovic and Pavicevic also propose indirect presidential elections of non-partisan persons.
Independent MP Milan Petric believes it is not the time to change the Constitution and that the priorities should be stabilisation of the economic situation, attracting new investments and creating new jobs. He believes that the number of MPs should not be reduced at the detriment of parliamentary representation, but that a model should be sought in which the citizens would know who they are voting for and that all of Serbia is represented in the National Assembly.
The representative of the SDA Sandzak – Party of Democratic Action Shaip Kamberi believes that the preamble on Kosovo-Metohija should be adjusted to the “real situation”. He sees the amendment of the Constitution as a chance to improve the position of the minorities, stating that the protection of minority rights could contribute to the stability and economic development and prosperity for all. He does not dispute the reduction of the number of MPs, but he suggests instating mechanisms that would ensure the participation of minority representatives through guaranteed quotas, and suggests that the Prime Minister should submit an annual report to the National Assembly on the position minorities and the level of achievement of minority rights.
The Head of the SDA Sandzak – Party of Democratic Action Parliamentary Group Sulejman Ugljanin believes it urgent to, before the Constitution is amended, pass an umbrella minority law which would define minorities, national minority councils and their duties.
Riza Halimi of the Party of Democratic Action listed the judiciary as one of the problems noting as example the Bujanovac Basic Court where only three judges are Albanians.
The representative of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina Bojan Kostres had a number of proposals he thinks should be the subject of debate, the beginning of which he believes should be the autonomy of Vojvodina. The League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina seeks full autonomy for Vojvodina, that the province should have executive, judiciary and legislative power, its own property and income, and that the Constitution should ban the sale of agricultural land to foreigners. Kostres also believes that the rest of Serbia should be divided into regions in order to ensure uniform regional development.
Independent MPs Zoran Zivkovic and Vladimir Pavicevic announce that through the amendments to the political system they propose they will urge for a reduction of the number of MPs to 150, 100 of which would be elected using the majority system and 50 using the proportional system, and a bigger electoral consensus for coalitions. The propose an amendment of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, but that should be the first task of a new National Assembly legislature, after which the MPs who had adopted the supreme legal act would continue with their duties and work as MPs. Zivkovic and Pavicevic propose the introduction of a chancellor system of Government i.e. allowing the Prime Minister to change the ministers of his/her own accord if unsatisfied with their work, without a parliamentary ruling. Zivkovic and Pavicevic also propose indirect presidential elections of non-partisan persons.
Independent MP Milan Petric believes it is not the time to change the Constitution and that the priorities should be stabilisation of the economic situation, attracting new investments and creating new jobs. He believes that the number of MPs should not be reduced at the detriment of parliamentary representation, but that a model should be sought in which the citizens would know who they are voting for and that all of Serbia is represented in the National Assembly.
The representative of the SDA Sandzak – Party of Democratic Action Shaip Kamberi believes that the preamble on Kosovo-Metohija should be adjusted to the “real situation”. He sees the amendment of the Constitution as a chance to improve the position of the minorities, stating that the protection of minority rights could contribute to the stability and economic development and prosperity for all. He does not dispute the reduction of the number of MPs, but he suggests instating mechanisms that would ensure the participation of minority representatives through guaranteed quotas, and suggests that the Prime Minister should submit an annual report to the National Assembly on the position minorities and the level of achievement of minority rights.
The Head of the SDA Sandzak – Party of Democratic Action Parliamentary Group Sulejman Ugljanin believes it urgent to, before the Constitution is amended, pass an umbrella minority law which would define minorities, national minority councils and their duties.
Riza Halimi of the Party of Democratic Action listed the judiciary as one of the problems noting as example the Bujanovac Basic Court where only three judges are Albanians.
The representative of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina Bojan Kostres had a number of proposals he thinks should be the subject of debate, the beginning of which he believes should be the autonomy of Vojvodina. The League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina seeks full autonomy for Vojvodina, that the province should have executive, judiciary and legislative power, its own property and income, and that the Constitution should ban the sale of agricultural land to foreigners. Kostres also believes that the rest of Serbia should be divided into regions in order to ensure uniform regional development.