Zagreb - The parliament on Monday began its first session in 2024, and at the start of the session, Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković extended messages on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of Croatia's recognition and 26th anniversary of the completion of the peaceful reintegration.
Jandroković recalled that on this day 32 years ago, at the height of the Great Serbian aggression against Croatia, the recognition of Croatia's independence by all the 12 member-states of the European Community "was a coordinated European message that gave us encouragement to continue fighting in our just struggle for freedom."
He highlighted the completion of the peaceful reintegration on 15 January 1998 and said that our achievements "make us more resilient to future challenges."
Over 200 items on agenda
For now, there are 214 items on the agenda of the Sabor until Easter, including amendments to the Penal Code and the laws on criminal procedure and protection from domestic violence, which foresee the introduction of the crimes of femicide and unauthorised disclosure of information from investigations.
Also on the agenda is a final bill of amendments to the referendum law and amendments to the bankruptcy law.
The Sabor is also expected to elect a new state attorney general given that the term of the incumbent, Zlata Hrvoj Šipek, expires in May. Four candidates have applied for this post, which is elected with a majority of at least 76 votes.
The incumbent parliament could also deal with ten Constitutional Court judges whose terms expire in early June. The election of the new judges, Jandroković has said, will depend on whether a two-thirds majority (101) can be secured, which requires an agreement between the majority and the opposition. If no agreement is reached, he added, the matter will be left to the next parliament.
The session starting on Monday could also be the incumbent Sabor's last in the parliament building in St. Mark's Square prior to its post-earthquake reconstruction. It is still not known where the next parliament will sit, and two locations are under consideration.