On the political scene in Bosnia and Herzegovina, unusually calm for what is considered to be a crucial week. And, behind the screen accumulated unfulfilled obligations. Old deadlines replaced by new ones. Since the end of last year, the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been waiting for technical changes. The high representative is also waiting, as well as BiH leaders. It’s just a question of who for what.
Several deadlines, missed opportunities, serious calls and warnings. And again nothing. The High Representative threatened to intervene, then withdrew. The task was left to BiH leaders. But almost two months later – a lull. Neither the leader nor Christian Schmidt was on stage, although it is increasingly certain that without his intervention there will be no integrity of the electoral process. So the question is what and why is he waiting for. Who is playing overtime in favor of the state, and who is calling for help?
“I invite him to wait for a certain amount of time, but it seems to me that he himself has given certain deadlines – until the end of March if the Parliamentary Assembly does not do it, I invite him to boldly, without looking back at the blackmail that we can hear from officials from the RS, imposed changes to the Election Law because all political parties, except for a few of them, want citizens to participate in fair elections”, said Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of BiH Denis Zvizdić (NiP).
“I really don’t know if Schmidt is waiting for us to come to an agreement so that, if we don’t come to an agreement, he reacts or has another plan,” said Predrag Kojović, NS representative in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly.
Schmidt answers. True, diplomatically. Without details, but with a clear indication that the procrastination is coming to an end: “It’s impossible to really play with me. There are politicians who want to achieve something, but apart from the delay in the process, I haven’t really seen anything else”.
It has been like that for years, regardless of the convocation of the authorities. So we wonder – does Schmidt expect Bosnia and Herzegovina leader’s real turnaround or does it give the country an opportunity for a European path that, if imposed, would stop? Could there be more reason to wait in the threats that come from the RS every day?
“No imposition is out of the question. If he imposes the Election Law, we pass our own election law,” said the President of the RS Milorad Dodik (SNSD).
“As far as the RS is concerned, only as much legitimacy will be valid for it as it has. Every Schmidt solution multiplied by zero gives zero”, said the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH Staša Košarac (SNSD).
“The EU was often afraid of this blackmail, and met it, until two years ago. Things have changed, the international community is fully aware that blackmail has neither political nor any other force,” added Zvizdić.
In this constellation of authorities, every potential solution is stopped by a new obstruction. SNSD against Schmidt, HDZ BiH against any changes that will not bring about legitimate representation. Therefore, the space for action is maximally narrowed, and the possibilities are reduced to a minimum. Here, for changes, only Schmidt has the power.
“Both Čović and Dodik are trying to create an impression in the public space that they are in favor of changes to the Election Law, but that they will not be partners in any changes that are imposed from the outside”, according to academician Slavo Kukić.
“Lack of political responsibility – I’m not sure that they will do it, but that the high representative will be forced to react”, believes Vehid Šehić, a former member of the CEC of BiH.
Schmidt is waiting for a coalition, part of the Schmidt coalition. After announcements, promises and attempts, when the line is drawn, the only constant and common point for everyone is waiting. One “D-day” passes, another dawns, after a crucial week comes another. And so indefinitely, at least in the political calendar. The one in the CEC of Bosnia and Herzegovina already shows the deadline for changes to the law, because anything that comes after the first half of March – will be late and inapplicable in this year’s local elections, Federalna writes.
