Political crises like the one currently on the scene in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), i.e. when there is no real possibility to form an executive power, are resolved in most democratic states by calling extraordinary or early elections, but due to specific circumstances, something like that in BiH is in the realm of theory.
Dissolution of the parliament is the power of the head of state in most countries. In many countries, the head of state can initiate extraordinary elections only under certain conditions. In Austria, Israel, and Poland, there is a possibility of self-dissolution of the parliament.
At the same time, Poland and Austria have the possibility to impeach the president. In Latvia, the parliament can be dissolved by referendum, which happened in 2011. The United States (U.S.) and Norway do not have the possibility to dissolve the parliament.
In some monarchies, the king dissolves the lower house on the proposal of the prime minister, for example in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. On the other hand, elections in BiH are called independently by the Central Election Commission (CEC).
What is also very important is to distinguish between extraordinary and early elections. The mandate in early elections lasts until the next regular election of the cycle. On the other hand, in extraordinary elections, delegates get a mandate for as many years as they would have in regular elections, in the case of BiH it is four years.
If, by some chance, the institution of extraordinary elections were to be introduced in BiH, that is, if it were to come down to the entity level, the political structures in the Republika Srpska (RS), led by Milorad Dodik, would certainly use it to separate the election processes in the RS and the FBiH. As a result, elections could no longer be held on the same day. Such a decision would undoubtedly be extremely harmful and counterproductive for the state.
On the other hand, the CEC could call early elections only in case of dissolution of the FBiH Parliament. Dissolution of the FBiH Parliament is carried out by the FBiH President with the consent of the other two vice presidents. However, the dissolution of the FBiH Parliament is not allowed 12 months after its constitution, in order to avoid abuses and manipulations.
But the dissolution of the FBiH Parliament can only happen if the Parliament is unable to pass the necessary laws, and if the budget of the FBiH fails to be passed before the beginning of the budget year. Other reasons for dissolution, such as the impossibility of forming a government, are not provided for in the FBiH Constitution.
If this were to change, changes to the FBiH Constitution and the electoral law would be necessary, which in the current political atmosphere, excluding the possibility of intervention by the High Representative, is possible only in theory, Klix.ba reports.
