The Croatian parliament on Friday failed to ensure the required majority of votes in favor of amending the constitution so as to include the law on the rights and entitlements of Croatian Homeland Defence War veterans.
Proposals to modify the constitution require a two-third majority of MPs in the 153-seat Sabor, and the motion for upgrading the veterans' legislation to the constitutional level was today supported by 69 votes versus the required 102 votes. Two MPs abstained from voting and 29 voted against the motion, proposed by the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).
HDZ MPs and deputies of the HSS (Peasant Party), a junior party from the ruling coalition, as well as the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) MP voted for the proposal.
The motion was supported by representatives of ethnic minorities, except for the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), who abstained from voting. Deputies from the opposition SDP and HNS parties voted against it.
On 21 April this year the government launched the proceedings to amend the constitution, at the initiative of war veteran associations.
