National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details
Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Second Special Hearing of the Action Group for Political System Reform
At the second special hearing of the Action Group for Political System Reform, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, New Serbia and the Serbian Renewal Movement – Demo-Christian Party of Serbia parliamentary groups shared their proposals and views as regards the necessary changes in Serbia’s political system.
The representatives of the parliamentary groups said that a change of the Constitution and election system is essential. Still, each parliamentary group had a different view as to what that change should be.
The Head of the New Serbia Parliamentary Group Miroslav Markicevic believes it necessary to change the Constitution, saying his group is ready to support that initiative, but not the change of the Preamble to the Constitution. Speaking of the reduction in the number of MPs, Markicevic believes it necessary to start by changing the election system.
“We need to switch from the proportional to a two-round majority election system, that is the voters should know who they are voting for by name”, opined Markicevic.
New Serbia also proposes reducing the electoral threshold to 3%, electing mayors in direct elections and councillors by a one-round majority election system.
According to the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, the Constitution is full of technical and legal errors, as well as inconsistencies. Still, the Head of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians Parliamentary Group Balint Pasztor says that the party considers it irrelevant whether the existing Constitution is amended or a new one is passed.
Speaking of the current election system, Pasztor says that a majority election system is unacceptable because it does not ensure a representative parliament. Therefore he proposes keeping a proportional system of some kind with the inclusion of a ranked threshold for coalitions. The Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians also proposes that the President of the Republic should be elected by the MPs of the National Assembly.
Pasztor also said that the position of the national minority councils needs to be regulated more explicitly and that Vojvodina should have more primary authority guaranteed by the Constitution.
“We believe that Vojvodina should be given legislative authority. Also, the source of its funding should be specified by a clear definition of the source income”, said Pasztor.
Regarding the election of mayors and councillors, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians is of the same opinion as the New Serbia Parliamentary Group - mayors should be elected in direct elections and councillors using a majority election system.
The Serbian Renewal Movement – Demo-Christian Party of Serbia Parliamentary Group believes decentralisation, reduction in the number of MPs and adoption of laws that would enable the opening of secret files, three primary reasons for the amendment of the Constitution.
The Head of the Serbian Renewal Movement – Demo-Christian Party of Serbia Parliamentary Group Aleksandar Jugovic believes that Serbia should be divided into electoral units i.e. regions. He shares the opinion of his fellow parliamentarians that the election system should be amended so that the President is elected by the National Assembly.
At the third special hearing, representatives of the United Serbia, Social Democratic Party of Serbia and Boris Tadic – Social Democratic Party, Together for Serbia, Greens of Serbia parliamentary groups will share their proposals for the reform of the political system.
The second special hearing was chaired by the Chairman of the Action Group Zoran Babic.
The Head of the New Serbia Parliamentary Group Miroslav Markicevic believes it necessary to change the Constitution, saying his group is ready to support that initiative, but not the change of the Preamble to the Constitution. Speaking of the reduction in the number of MPs, Markicevic believes it necessary to start by changing the election system.
“We need to switch from the proportional to a two-round majority election system, that is the voters should know who they are voting for by name”, opined Markicevic.
New Serbia also proposes reducing the electoral threshold to 3%, electing mayors in direct elections and councillors by a one-round majority election system.
According to the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, the Constitution is full of technical and legal errors, as well as inconsistencies. Still, the Head of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians Parliamentary Group Balint Pasztor says that the party considers it irrelevant whether the existing Constitution is amended or a new one is passed.
Speaking of the current election system, Pasztor says that a majority election system is unacceptable because it does not ensure a representative parliament. Therefore he proposes keeping a proportional system of some kind with the inclusion of a ranked threshold for coalitions. The Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians also proposes that the President of the Republic should be elected by the MPs of the National Assembly.
Pasztor also said that the position of the national minority councils needs to be regulated more explicitly and that Vojvodina should have more primary authority guaranteed by the Constitution.
“We believe that Vojvodina should be given legislative authority. Also, the source of its funding should be specified by a clear definition of the source income”, said Pasztor.
Regarding the election of mayors and councillors, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians is of the same opinion as the New Serbia Parliamentary Group - mayors should be elected in direct elections and councillors using a majority election system.
The Serbian Renewal Movement – Demo-Christian Party of Serbia Parliamentary Group believes decentralisation, reduction in the number of MPs and adoption of laws that would enable the opening of secret files, three primary reasons for the amendment of the Constitution.
The Head of the Serbian Renewal Movement – Demo-Christian Party of Serbia Parliamentary Group Aleksandar Jugovic believes that Serbia should be divided into electoral units i.e. regions. He shares the opinion of his fellow parliamentarians that the election system should be amended so that the President is elected by the National Assembly.
At the third special hearing, representatives of the United Serbia, Social Democratic Party of Serbia and Boris Tadic – Social Democratic Party, Together for Serbia, Greens of Serbia parliamentary groups will share their proposals for the reform of the political system.
The second special hearing was chaired by the Chairman of the Action Group Zoran Babic.