Preliminary communication

TERRITORIAL BASIS OF THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL SELFGOVERNMENT WITH SPECIAL REGARD TO THE POSITION OF THE CITY OF ZAGREB AND ITS SELF-GOVERNMENT

Stjepan Ivanišević ; Faculty of Law, Universtiy of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The territorial organization of local and regional self-government which existed in Croatia led to centralistic administration of public affairs. The situation with regard to the position of municipalities, towns or cities and counties has been analysed and basic tendencies of the reform of the territorial organization are proposed. The position and main systemic problems of the City of Zagreb administration have been explained in particular and possible improvements are suggested.
The territorial organization is only formally polytypical, since in reality differences in the status of municipalities and towns or cities are almost insignificant, two-tier, counties being units of the second tier, with a great number of small municipalities, In each category of local units, from municipalities through towns or cities to counties, there are very considerable differences in size among particular units. It is proposed to stop the tendency of multiplying basic local units (municipalities and towns or cities), widen independence and responsibility of larger towns
and gradually reform the organization of counties.
The main systemic problems of the City of Zagreb have not been solved satisfactorily. Zagreb is under the tutorship of the central state government, its relations with the closer surrounding area are regulated badly, influence on the city level is concentrated within the executive bodies, particularly the mayor whose responsibility
is questionable, and not even incomplete decentralisation in the form of local self-government within the area of the City has been established for more than seven years. It is proposed to establish such a system which would combine elements of strong and efficient political leadership and an appropriate level of democracy, with the direct election of the mayor by citizens, independence of the city administration of the central state administration as well as multilevel metropolitan administration which would ensure the realization of the interests of the City, but also its close surrounding area.

Keywords

local self-government - Croatia; territorial basis o f local self-government; the City o f Zagreb

Hrčak ID:

197840

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/197840

Publication date:

15.12.2000.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 1.649 *