The amendments also propose abolishing the right of MPs, Constitutional Court judges and the Chief State Auditor to the maximum pension, exceeding 17,000 kuna, which is twice the amount of the maximum pension of all other citizens.

The highest pension for those officials would in the future amount to HRK 8,872 for 40 years of service, the same as in the case of other pension beneficiaries.

The abolishment of privileged pensions was one of the main election promises of the Kukuriku coalition, which sent the amendments to that effect to parliament last week to be discussed under urgent procedure.

Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic then said that abolishing privileged pensions would help make minor savings, but that it would help dispel public resentment about those pensions.

He did not agree with a decision by seven Opposition MPs to apply for retirement for only one day in order to gain the right to a privileged pension before the said law was abolished.

Damir Kajin, a member of the Istrian Democratic Party that is part of the ruling coalition, followed their example saying he intended to submit an application for a privileged pension, prompting Milanovic to say that he regretted Kajin's decision.

A Parliament Deputy Speaker and vice-president of the opposition Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Vladimir Seks, said last week that the President of the Republic should not be exempt from the planned abolishment of privileged pensions and that all state officials should have the same treatment.

HDZ leader Jadranka Kosor criticised the ruling coalition's plan to have the legislation on the rights and obligations of MPs discussed under urgent procedure, but the ruling majority turned down the HDZ's motion to discuss it under normal procedure, deciding that the proposed amendments would be discussed under urgent procedure.