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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia to get Ombudsman by year’s end

Belgrade, 29 September 2004

Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Goverment Zoran Loncar announced today that Serbia will get the Ombudsman institution by the end of the year, after the draft law on Ombudsman is placed on the Serbian parliament’s agenda at its autumn session.

Zoran Loncar

Loncar addressed the regional conference “Ombudsman in Southeastern Europe,” which is in its second day in the Serbia-Montenegrin parliament, by saying that the institution of Ombudsman is an important segment of society’s democratisation and public administration reform.

Regardless of the fact that the provisions of the existing Constitution do not make the best background for the Ombudsman to be established, the government still decided to work on this law before the new constitution is passed, because a two-thirds majority in the parliament is needed to pass a new constitution, Loncar explained.

Under the present Constitution, it is possible to establish the Ombudsman institution, he said, but pointed to the fact that Ombudsman is not granted legal initiative. Also, he noted, the process of appointment is not strict enough as the Ombudsman is elected by a 50 percent majority, instead of by a two-thirds majority in the parliament.

The Minister voiced hope that a new Constitution will be passed soon, and announced intensive work on the new Constitution in the month-to-come.