Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Monday passed new laws on construction, spatial planning, and energy efficiency in buildings, colloquially referred to as the "Bačić laws", by a majority vote.
The spatial planning law passed with 76 votes in favour, 59 against, and one abstention; the construction law with 77 votes in favour, 57 against, and two abstentions; and the energy efficiency law with 79 votes in favour, 51 against, and four abstentions.
Opposition parties, which had repeatedly stated that the laws favour big business at the expense of citizens, voted against them. The ruling HDZ party denied the claims, insisting that the new legislation raises the standards for protecting space.
Benčić: We will have the laws overturned, topple the government
The left-wing opposition called on the government to withdraw the laws and announced that they would first appeal to the Constitutional Court and, if necessary, organise a referendum.
"If you pass this, we will first seek a constitutional review. But this time, we won't wait years for a decision. If the Court doesn't act within three months, together with the SDP and other progressive opposition parties, we will launch a referendum, to have this law overturned, and then we will topple this government," said Sandra Benčić (We Can!).
SDP MP Jasenka Auguštan Pentek urged the government to withdraw what she called the "infamous" spatial planning law. She warned that the legislation is not in the public interest, deprives citizens of their most valuable resources, and benefits lobbyists.
HDZ and DP reject opposition claims of expropriation
The ruling HDZ and Homeland Movement (DP) parties firmly rejected opposition claims that the laws enable expropriation or reduce the powers of cities and municipalities.
"Claims of expropriation linked to urban land consolidation are false. No investor is favoured. These are modern laws that serve citizens," reiterated HDZ MP Tomislav Klarić, mayor of Bakar. He stressed that the laws allow for faster, simpler management of space and speed up the issuance of construction permits.
Ivica Kukavica (DP) also dismissed opposition claims that urban consolidation would take property from private owners, noting that young families would benefit from quicker access to residential zones.
Selak Raspudić: Left-wing opposition is all noise, no action
Bridge party members and independent MP Marija Selak Raspudić criticised both the government and the left-wing opposition.
"You are masters of deception, turning patriotism into greed," said Nikola Grmoja (Bridge). "Under the guise of patriotism, you strip everything to the bone -- now even our space is offered as currency to questionable investors, ignoring local communities," he told the HDZ.
Grmoja, on the other hand, criticised the left-wing opposition for targeting Minister Bačić at the national level, while Krapina-Zagorje County Prefect Željko Kolar of the SDP "acts against the citizens and their property in Zabok".
Selak Raspudić added that the HDZ is willing to override democratically elected local authorities to take control of space, while the government "grabs everything it can".
"Those who like to call themselves progressive left aren't fighting for space -- they're just making noise because someone took away their favourite toy, which they use to pressure everyone they can in Zagreb. Their management of public space is a public testament to their incompetence," she concluded.