The Chairperson of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Council of Ministers, Borjana Kristo, wrote yesterday to high-ranking European Union (EU) officials regarding the imposed Decision on Amendments to the Election Law by High Representative Christian Schmidt.
Kristo sent a letter yesterday to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and European Commission Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi.
“Kristo reminded of the recent opening of negotiations and said that it is clear to everyone in BiH that the entire electoral reform is of particular importance for BiH. She pointed out that BiH, as a future member state of the EU needs an Electoral Law that will not be a product of imposition or over-voting. Accordingly, the chairwoman reminded that special attention is being paid to the harmonization of the Amendments to the Election Law. The competent Ministry of Justice submitted the draft of the Law to the procedure on March 21st, 2024. It is currently in the public debate, to which everyone in BiH can present their comments and amendments at this moment,” the statement said.
She said that “the imposition of extensive international supervision (114-article reform package) is incompatible with the European future of BiH, and it is most disastrous for independent and sovereign BiH, taking into account that it is a law on which the democratic system is based and which is after the Constitution of BiH, the most important legal act.”
“I firmly believe that the imposition of a decision on amendments to the electoral law of BiH, for me, as the chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH, represents an unexpected challenge that, together with you, we will have to respond to in a way that does not jeopardize our EU path, as well as the work of the institutions BiH because it is the institutions in BiH that must take responsibility for making all decisions,” said Kristo in her letter to high-ranking EU officials.”
At the end of the letter, Kristo pointed out that it is necessary to continue cooperation and joint work and to strengthen trust and respect between us in BiH, and to support the solutions that will be the result of the work of BiH institutions. She expressed her belief that this is the only way to make the necessary step forward for all of us in BiH, including our European path, Klix.ba reports.
E.Dz.