The GONG nongovernmental organisation said on Saturday that the decision to strip deputy Zeljko Jovanovic of his parliamentary immunity, adopted at Friday's session of parliament, was contrary to the Croatian Constitution, adding that by adopting the decision, the HDZ-led ruling majority brought into question the democratic character of Croatia's political system.
"Stripping deputy Jovanovic of his parliamentary immunity for the words he said, adopted by the ruling majority in the Croatian parliament, is contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia. Article 76 of the Constitution which guarantees the right to immunity to deputies in the Croatian Parliament is clear: a deputy cannot face criminal charges, be detained or penalise for expressing his opinion or voting in the Croatian parliament," GONG said adding that parliament did not have the right to revoke that article.
The Croatian Parliament on Friday decided to strip SDP deputy Jovanovic of parliamentary immunity from prosecution. The ruling HDZ party decided to sue Jovanovic for slander after he called the party a criminal organisation.
GONG stressed that freedom of speech was the main purpose of the parliamentary immunity, adding that the decision of the ruling majority in parliament was the violation of the Constitution and standards of Croatia's parliamentary democracy.
