Is the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina being held hostage by a lack of quorum, or is it serving the people? Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina remain in suspense, and the country’s path to European Union accession is on hold. Can what has been stalled for the past five months be resolved in the next five months? Guests on the Plenum show included Zdenko Ćosić, Safet Softić, and Želimir Nešković.
Softić: The Dictate by the SNSD and HDZ – They Want to Prove Nothing Can Be Done Without Them in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Safet Softić, a delegate in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDA), commented on the current deadlock in the House, stating that this is not an isolated incident but a long-term political issue.
“When discussing this issue, we are not talking only about today. This situation has lasted almost a year and a half, ever since Nikola Špirić took over the chairmanship last year,” Softić said.
He claimed that there was a serious breach of procedures during that period.
“He presided for a few months, until he blatantly violated the Rules of Procedure in every illegal way. In accordance with the Rules of Procedure and the Constitution, he prevented the dismissal of SNSD (the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats) officials,” Softić added.
Following the changes in the management of the House of Peoples, the situation, according to him, has not improved significantly.
“Kemal Ademović took over as chair of the House and attempted to schedule certain sessions and agendas with the collegium. But the root issue is that the governing majority in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which formed the Council of Ministers and the Government at the state level, has lost its majority in the House of Peoples,” he said.
Softić emphasized that SNSD and HDZ do not have the necessary support. “SNSD and HDZ, as members of the ruling coalition at the state level, do not have a majority in the House of Peoples,” he said.
He sees the current blockades as an intentional strategy. “All these actions are obvious attempts to buy time and reach the elections in order to prevent changes that should have been implemented last year,” Softić said.
He pointed out the option provided by the Rules of Procedure. “The Rules of Procedure of the House of Peoples is not a philosophical act, and it is clear that the Chair has the right to call a session on his own initiative,” he said.
He added that consultations are not obligatory. “It states explicitly in the Rules of Procedure: in consultation with the members of the Collegium – consultations which are not binding, because they are just consultations – or he can act on his own initiative.”
Speaking about the behavior of the SNSD and HDZ representatives, Softić claimed they are under political pressure. “What SNSD, HDZ, specifically Čović and Špirić, want is to show that nothing can be done in this country without them,” he said.
Softić believes the crucial moment was the lack of response from the international community. “When they realized last year, as Špirić was breaching the Rules of Procedure, that there was no reaction from the international community regarding the breach, they extended the blockade to other matters,” he added.
He said the root cause of the issue does not lie in individual events. “It is not about whether Čović was in the Parliament building or not, but about the dictate of the SNSD and HDZ. These parties are trying to send a message that they rule the country and that decisions cannot be made without them. This is the heart of the matter, along with the loss of the majority they no longer hold in this House,” Softić concluded.
Softić also addressed the accusations against the Chair made by Dragan Čović and announced possible political moves in the coming period.
Responding to the claim that the Chair is “catering to the opposition,” Softić defended his colleague and emphasized his professional integrity:
“What I can say about Mr. Ademović is that he is a lawyer. He knows very well what he is doing. He is not uneducated or someone who does not understand the Rules of Procedure. He uses the Rules of Procedure as they allow him to. The whole point is to challenge his legitimacy.”
Discussing further steps, Softić stated that it is high time for political changes in the management of the House of Peoples. “I think that, based on today’s session, it is time for the majority in the House of Peoples to dismiss two members of the Collegium, Mr. Čović and Mr. Špirić.”
When asked whether such an initiative will actually be launched, Softić replied that the decision depends on consultations within the political bloc: “If it continues, I will first consult with my colleagues in the Club and within this ‘Eight’ that has the capacity to vote for such a thing. I think it is time for that, and in these five months remaining until the elections, we should try to get something done.”
In the end, Softić discussed the possible intervention of the international community in the event of a deadlock in the House of Peoples, emphasizing that he sees a solution in concrete measures: “This is a very solvable and easy matter. I do not see an issue. The High Representative should cut the salaries of those who do not come to work – those who do not appear or fulfill the obligations for which they were elected.”
He is convinced that such a move would be effective: “If the High Representative does this, I am convinced that the House of Peoples will function smoothly.”
Ćosić: Allow the Voting on European Laws – It Will Be Clear Who Is Blocking
Zdenko Ćosić, a delegate in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, claims that this is a repetition of a well-known pattern and a method of scheduling that leads to a blockade in advance.
“The same scenario repeats; the sessions are scheduled in such a way that it is known in advance there will be no quorum,” he said, adding that there is a lack of consultation within the Collegium and that it was clear beforehand that some delegates would not attend.
He stated that the aim of such sessions is reduced to “searching for a suspect before the cameras.” He also noted that the “early campaign overshadowed the true role of the parliament.”
When asked why he did not attend the session, he emphasized that the problem is not physical presence, but procedure.
“Attending the session was not the problem; I am referring to the scheduling process and the lack of agreement,” he emphasized, claiming that without a change in approach, “this situation can continue until the Chairman is replaced.”
Addressing accusations against HDZ and SNSD, Ćosić shifted responsibility to the way the sessions are conducted.
“There were no consultations, and the presence of other Collegium members is completely ignored,” he said, adding that as a result, “HDZ and SNSD are accused of blocking something,” while, according to him, others are trying to take total control of the process.
When asked about the consequences citizens may face, especially given high fuel prices, he acknowledged the need for intervention and noted that such decisions did not pass the Council of Ministers.
“There should have been a response to mitigate the price increases, but there is no consensus,” he said, adding that those “who blocked it at the Council of Ministers” should be held responsible.
At the same time, he downplayed the urgency of certain issues, emphasizing that blockades have persisted for some time.
“This problem has been ongoing for a year and a half. Every matter is considered vital,” he said, noting that political conflicts arise from attempted removals and “resistance mechanisms that are entirely constitutional.”
He identified manipulation of the agenda as a key cause.
“There are dozens of laws on which there is consensus, but each time, items that lack support and block the session are included on the agenda,” he claimed, adding that such proposals are intentionally placed at the beginning to prevent the adoption of European laws.
Discussing possible solutions, he recalled previous suggestions to move the disputed laws to the end of the agenda.
“Everyone has the right to propose a law, but let it come after the laws on which there is consensus,” he said, adding, “there is no will to accept that.”
He stated that without prior consensus, there is no point in attending the sessions.
“Why would I attend if the session will fail?” he concluded.
He placed responsibility for blocking the laws necessary for the country’s path to Europe on the other side.
“Once again, we hear accusations that HDZ, along with SNSD, is blocking the path to Europe. Let us clarify our position regarding the European laws that are on hold, and you will see who is actually stalling the process. The laws could be adopted as early as tomorrow if the colleagues who are blocking them would allow a vote.”
Nešković: Deadlock in the House of Peoples Prevents Lowering Excise Duties and Directly Affects Citizens
Želimir Nešković, a delegate in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDS), said that amendments to the Law on Excise Duties, which would enable a reduction in fuel prices, have not been included on the agenda due to political blockades in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The emergency session was held in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, at the request of seven delegates, and it is completely legitimate for it to be held. However, the issue is that delegates from SNSD and HDZ are repeating the practice of blocking the work of the House of Peoples,” Nešković said.
He said there is a clear majority that wants to discuss abolishing excise duties on fuel. “The eight of us delegates insist that this initiative be placed on the agenda. This is a pressing issue, as fuel prices are rising daily and Eurodiesel has nearly reached four BAM per liter,” he said.
He tried to highlight the inadequacy of current measures through a symbolic gesture. “I left five BAM where Nikola Špirić is sitting to show that entity measures are insufficient. That is the amount a citizen receives as a refund per single fill-up,” he explained.
He believes that one concrete measure would be the total abolition of excise duties, at least temporarily.
“Not just a reduction, but a complete abolition of excise duties for a three-month period would provide relief to the economy and household budgets. Citizens and economists cannot withstand this pressure,” he warned.
Nešković claimed the government is intentionally avoiding this topic. “HDZ and SNSD, led by Dragan Čović and supported by Nikola Špirić, want to maintain control over the House of Peoples, even though they do not have the required majority. The goal is to preserve budget revenues through high fuel prices and VAT,” he said.
He added that many important laws are blocked in this way. “For over a year and a half, we have faced continuous blockades. Even key laws cannot be adopted, nor can international agreements important for citizens and investments,” he said.
He specifically highlighted the issue of accountability among elected officials. “If someone receives a high salary but does not attend sessions or participate in the work, then the question of responsibility is rightly raised. I am ready to discuss every item on the agenda,” he stated.
Regarding the role of the international community, Nešković expressed reservations about interventions. “I am not in favor of interventionism, but it is obvious that the blockades are being observed without any concrete reaction, which further encourages those implementing them,” he said.
He concluded that the current situation directly harms citizens. “We have dozens of laws on hold, from VAT refunds on first-time property purchases to issues of salaries and public procurement. There is no justification for such behavior. Citizens bear the consequences, while institutions are blocked,” Nešković said, Federalna writes.
