The Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Sarajevo (UNSA), Sead Turcalo, said that since the end of the General Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), we are witnessing internal Bosniak polarization for the first time, stressing that Christian Schmidt’s new temporary decision could lead to some kind of civil unrest.
Firstly, he said that the changes brought by Schmidt represented an encroachment on the Constitution of the Federation of BiH (FBiH), which is absolutely not part of the Dayton Peace Agreement.
He believes that one of Schmidt’s possible decisions is to mirror decision-making in the BiH Presidency to the decision-making method of the FBiH leadership.
Moreover, Turcalo adds that this would create a new institutional framework, but that, if it is temporary, there could be some kind of unrest.
“If the decision was one-time (ad hoc) and not long-term, such a decision would, I am convinced, given the current mood in the public, be interpreted through the ideological prism of the political option that Schmidt comes from, which is against multiculturalism and against some liberal values. In the end, the former president of this party said that Islam does not belong to Europe. That would be interpreted that way by a large number of circles and voters who supported the SDA, which would be very dangerous,” Turcalo said.
Furthermore, he emphasizes that the political narratives that have been developing since the election are producing internal Bosniak polarization for the first time.
“This polarization, in my opinion, is going more and more in the direction, which very easily in the case of a one-time decision, which would confirm Schmidt’s earlier intentions related to the previous decision, could lead to some kind of civil unrest. If you look at the prevailing situation, the discourses that are produced, on social media, etc., the situation could go in that direction. I think it is irresponsible to even talk about options for someone to accept a temporary measure unless the only desire for power and authority is what primarily determines someone’s political activity, then it is quite normal that they will accept a temporary decision,” Turcalo explained, Klix.ba reports.
E.Dz.
