Anarchy, trickery, political games, alliances, fraud, suspicious intentions. All under the cloak of the Rules of Procedure. There is only one, but everyone has their own version of the interpretation. However, now the chairman of the House of Peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nikola Špirić (SNSD), is in charge and making decisions. While his dismissal is on the agenda together with his party colleagues in the Council of Ministers, the dismissal can only be on the last items. Because the further it is, the safer the position, and the door to breaking the quorum is wide open.
“It is certainly logical that the draft laws should be the first items,” said Špirić.
A need camouflaged in logic. Eight delegates read the SNSD’s clear intention to save through the strategic order of the agenda items. Eight delegates, namely the Bosniak Club together with Vuković, Nešković and Miletić, insist that the order be changed: first dismissals, then laws.
“The item regarding Špirić’s dismissal should be put on the agenda immediately as the second item, followed by the dismissal of ministers,” demanded Šefik Džaferović, president of the Bosniak Club in the House of Peoples of BiH (SDA).
Špirić refuses, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples of BiH Dragan Čović (HDZBiH) follows him, although he is aware of where this is leading. It is only a question of who will be the first to leave the hall. But while there is still a quorum, there are also priorities. In addition to keeping an old ally from the SNSD at the top, there is another old priority:
“We must put the Election Law on the agenda and eliminate the possibility of two Bosniak members of the Presidency of BiH blocking the budget,” said Čović.
Everyone is pushing for their own agenda, so Čović and Špirić are not giving up on the agenda. The justification is again in the Rules of Procedure. The item can be removed or added, but not changed in order. What they claim they cannot do, in practice it seems as if they are not giving. The right to speak, if it is not to Špirić’s liking, is no longer granted to the delegates here. While the mouth is full of the Constitution, the hands use all the tools to ban, block and silence, even turning off the microphone. No means are chosen to save from dismissal.
“Chain me, emperor, know that I love it – the chair. It will mark you from today until the end of your political career,” said Dženan Đonlagić, a delegate in the House of Peoples of BiH (DF).
“You will not sit on it, that is for sure,” Špirić replied.
Four hours of discussion brought a unilateral decision by the chairman – the request of eight delegates was rejected because Špirić knows that if a vote were held, it would be adopted. And that means his dismissal.
What was certain at the beginning, followed after the break. The Bosniak Club is principled, Špirić is persistent, the third member of the Collegium has no right to vote or make decisions.
“Two are whispering about the third. So much for majoritarianism and outvoting,” pointed out Kemal Ademović, Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples of BiH (NiP).
Only Špirić decided.
“I cannot attend in this way of working. Thank you,” concluded Džaferović and left the hall. Smajić, Đonlagić, Softić, Ademović, Miletić, Vuković and Nešković followed him. Angry, disappointed, but determined to persist in their request. Someday.
“Nikola Špirić has taken away all our rights. I will file a criminal complaint against Špirić with the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH,” said Džemal Smajić, a delegate to the House of Peoples of BiH (SBiH).
The one who was called out is sure that he is completely right. At the end of the session, another insult to the Bosniak Club, along with the label of those responsible for the blockade:
“Like lost children in the forest, there is no international mentor to tell them what to do, to tell them – children, follow me,” said Špirić.
The HDZ is also joining in. However, from their point of view, the reason for the Bosniak Club’s move is different. The one close to them.
“They are trying to create a crisis in order to prevent a discussion on the Election Law,” believes Marina Pendeš, president of the Croat Club in the House of Peoples of BiH (HDZBiH).
“The biggest problem in the FBiH is the legitimate election of the Croat member of the Presidency of BiH,” added Ilija Cvitanović, delegate to the House of Peoples of BiH (HDZ 1990).
It is unlikely that this convocation of the House of Peoples will be able to resolve the Election Law, but also all the other laws that have been left aside in the political circus. And the futile session is good confirmation that they cannot go any further, but also that the HDZ and SNSD are still sticking together because the alliance has no expiration date, Federalna writes.
