Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Deputy President of People and Justice Denis Zvizdić spoke about the possible return of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Moneyvala gray list, the election of a new high representative, roadblocks to the European road, the situation in Republika Srpska and relations within the pro-Bosnian political bloc.
Speaking about the possible return of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Moneyvala’s gray list, Zvizdić warned that such a decision could have serious consequences for the state, the banking sector and the investment climate.
“For months, we have been warning the Council of Ministers to adopt the necessary laws and not to bring Bosnia and Herzegovina into a situation where a measure will be issued to place Moneyval on the gray list, which will create enormous problems for the banking sector and the reputation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and ultimately for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
He assessed that certain ministers, primarily those from SNSD, are ready to harm citizens in order to remain consistent with the policy of blockades.
“Getting off the gray list is a far more long-term and serious process than this small effort to pass the remaining two laws.”
He added that the key problem in the Law on the Management of Illegal Assets is that the representatives of the SNSD do not want the jurisdiction to belong to state institutions, which is not acceptable to either Moneyval or international institutions.
New High Representative and Bonn powers
Commenting on the election of the new high representative, Zvizdić said that his election is a serious matter for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that a possible delay would not produce a “cardinal mistake”.
“The high representative should be appointed as soon as possible, but with Bonn powers and with all competences until the program and conditions are fulfilled.”
According to him, it is much more important what kind of program the new high representative comes with than just his name.
“What interests us all is not just the name of the high representative or who is behind him, but what program he comes with and whether he will enter those areas and topics that carry a high risk for future events in BiH, such as the issue of earlier decisions of high representatives and the issue of state property.”
He believes that the abolition or limitation of the Bonn powers would be “completely pointless” in the current circumstances.
“He must still have the strength of the Bonn powers as the supreme interpreter of the civilian part of the Dayton Agreement and someone who can protect the constitutional-legal order from all those who attack sovereignty, territorial integrity or state institutions.”
Southern interconnection and the issue of state assets
Speaking about the Southern Gas Interconnection project, Zvizdić said that it is also a strategic project for Bosnia and Herzegovina because it enables the diversification of gas supply sources.
However, he warned that no move should be made during the implementation that could threaten the interests of the state.
“In that procedure and on that path, no wrong step, no decision, no law that can harm the interests of BiH must be made, and one of the key systemic issues for the future of BiH is the question of the status of state property.”
To the statement of HDZ BiH leader Dragan Čović that there is nothing from the Commission for State Property, he replied:
“It’s easiest to say that something can’t be done. It would be correct if Mr. Čović suggested which model could go.”
He added that, if there is a model like the one applied in the case of land for the American embassy, then it should be supported and turned into a legal solution.
The European path and SNSD blockades
Zvizdić believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot achieve significant progress on the European path as long as SNSD remains an important political factor at the state level and in Republika Srpska.
“If the SNSD remains part of the government even after the next elections, this blockade would continue, because Moscow wants Bosnia and Herzegovina to remain a dysfunctional and divided state. Then talks about European integration would become meaningless.”
He pointed out that there are results where SNSD does not have the possibility of blocking.
“Since the beginning of 2025, after the dissolution of the coalition with the SNSD in the House of Representatives, we adopted 48 laws in 16 months. Where the SNSD does not have the possibility of blocking, the results exist. Where it has the possibility of blocking, as in the House of Peoples, the processes stand still.”
He emphasized that there are pro-European political forces from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina that can realize both domestic and European obligations.
House of peoples, blockades and sanctions
Commenting on claims that three delegates are needed for the functioning of the House of Peoples, Zvizdić said that this is not true.
“Two delegates can ensure decision-making within the general and entity majority. If we are talking about breaking the quorum, then we are talking about anti-constitutional and anti-business activity.”
He added that there are no effective sanctions for such behavior.
“The eventual sanction could be the withholding of salaries from those who systematically destroy the quorum or do not participate in the work of commissions and sessions of the House of Peoples, because this is their basic obligation.”
The Constitutional Court of the RS and the situation in the RS
Zvizdić called the document of the Constitutional Court of the RS, which questions the OHR and the High Representative, scandalous.
“I think even first-year law students would see that this is an anti-constitutional act that has nothing to do with basic legal norms. Such a document would not be written by serious lawyers, but only by those who act as an extended arm of the SNSD.”
He assessed that it is a political play that diverts attention from the real problems of the citizens of the RS.
“The RS is getting into additional debt every day. The debt of public companies and banks has exceeded one billion marks, and the debt of local communities exceeds 500 million. They have more pensioners than employees in the production sector, and a large number of young people are leaving.”
He added that this is why daily political topics such as insulting Bosniaks, disputing Bosnia and Herzegovina or stories about secession are being produced.
Dodik’s candidacy and the plans of People and Justice
Speaking about Milorad Dodik’s possible candidacy, Zvizdić said that, in his opinion, Dodik cannot be a candidate for any position.
“The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Court in Strasbourg made decisions that Dodik and his associates do not like, but they must respect them. In my opinion, he cannot be a candidate for any position, nor could he be a signatory to the SNSD list.”
Speaking about the upcoming elections, he announced that the People and Justice will participate at all levels of government and that he expects a result that will maintain its political capacity. He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the way in which the new pro-Bosnian bloc was formed to perform in the RS.
“Narod i Pravda was ready to be a part of a broad state-building block for performance in the RS, without any leadership ambitions, but with a normal, fair and partnership relationship between all participants.”
He added that party members from the RS were particularly affected by this development and that it was very likely that People and Justice would act independently in the RS. He also confirmed that he would remain in the party and stressed that there was democratic dialogue and freedom of opinion in People and Justice party, Federalna writes.
