The last regular session of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament was held four months ago. It is an election year, the summer break is coming, and there is less and less time for concrete changes in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And numerous laws and decisions are waiting to be put on the agenda of the Federal Parliament. But there are no sessions. Accusations and correspondence continue since the last one. House without Speaker, majority divided. Is there room for compromise?
March 11. That was the last time the federal representatives held a regular session. It will show – crucial. Change, vacant position, disunited coalition. From then until today, only one extraordinary session has been held, even though the Law and Rules of Procedure order otherwise.
“According to the rules of procedure, we have an obligation – it should hold a meeting once a month,” says Rasim Smajlović, a representative of NiP in the House of Representatives of the PFBiH.
However, the last and only official attempt failed precisely because of the non-appearance of representatives of the People and Justice. From then until today – instead of sitting, accusations and speculation. Unofficially, the SDP claim that political discussions are being held in connection with the Law on Mediation in Employment, which NiP insists on, and HDZBiH rejects. This is also the reason for the cancellation of the scheduled session in May.
“We did not want to participate in something where it is impossible for us to act as representatives and as ministers of NiP, because if our laws do not pass, if what is important to us, most important, and of course also to all citizens of FBiH, does not pass. We think that someone is excluding us from work,” adds Smajlović.
Now the Law has been reaffirmed by the Government of the Federation and will be presented to the representatives for a new attempt. But the problem is not one. From Our party – direct accusations to partners. Amir Purić should be appointed Speaker of the House. But months pass, and there is no appointment. The key, they say, is the Law on Games of Chance, which, with Purić at the helm, would come to a vote.
“If we are looking for a reason why there are no sessions of the FBiH parliament – it is neither the election of constitutional judges nor the election of a new chairman, but several laws, of which this one is the most important and very likely the first on the list,” says Purić, a representative of our party in the PFBiH House of Representatives.
This is a law that has been talked about for years, but with no real chance of its adoption. Therefore, the accusations of Our Party are primarily aimed at HDZ BiH, which has long refused to adopt similar solutions. As expected, they reject all allegations.
“The smartest thing is not to comment on what our party is saying, because it is not based on the truth and has nothing to do with the truth,” said categorically Mladen Bošković, deputy chairman of the House of Representatives of the PFBiH (HDZBiH).
While correspondence and public accusations continue, a political compromise is sought in the shadows. Purić is waiting, but also the appointment of judges of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Can one condition the other? The HDZBiH remains secretive, and the SDP do not want to be in front of the cameras. Earlier, they clearly said that the position of chairman is reserved for Our Party.
“Is something going on behind the scenes – that should be asked of those who are suspected of having something. What I can say on behalf of the SDP is absolutely not disputed by us, in the political distribution of positions, that position belonged to our party,” said Damir Mašić, president of the SDP Club in the PFBiH House of Representatives.
It’s an election year, and in a few days the summer break. Little time for concrete changes and progress. For the opposition, everything is just a show for the public.
“Our party is talking about the Law on Games of Chance, they had four years to do it, they had their own two chairpersons. If NiP wanted the law to be adopted, they had a way to conditionally blackmail their partners. HDZ – of course, they are interested in the re-election of a judge of the Constitutional Court. This is a show for the public, therefore, they functioned perfectly where they needed to,” says Mirsad Zaimović, president of the SDA Club in the PFBiH House of Representatives.
But for the public, it would be much more important to resolve specific issues and pass the necessary laws. It is thus clear that the Parliament does not monitor the work of the Government, which nevertheless sits regularly. Decisions, instead of being on the agenda, remain in the drawers, along with the parliamentarians’ proposals. And the parliamentary calendar remains empty, Federalna writes.
