Who is the guardian of the Bosnian skies? The air navigation service agency BHANSA is under public scrutiny. Its importance is exceptional, its revenues are measured in tens of millions. Every plane flight is recorded, but no new names are recorded at the head of the agency. For nearly ten years, the management role has been in the hands of Davorin Primorac, Dragan Čović’s son-in-law. The second term is coming to an end, so the solution for an unlimited number of terms has been submitted to the parliamentary procedure by Edin Forto. The first attempt last year failed, and now he is again in search of a parliamentary majority.
“I know that the public is interested because of his family ties to a prominent Bosnian politician,” said Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina (NS).
And it is no secret who. A Bosnian politician, more precisely, Dragan Čović, is once again in the public spotlight. Not because of laws and reforms, but because of close political and family ties. Who will manage the Bosnian skies? A question weighing more than 80 million marks, which is how much BHANSA’s annual turnover is worth. For nine years, Davorin Primorac, the son-in-law of the leader of the HDZ BiH, has been ruling the sky and money. His second term is coming to an end, but instead of saying goodbye to his position, he could stay in it for life. Edin Forto’s move could be decisive, but procedures are key. The first step has been taken: the law is already in public consultation.
“I refuse to include personal matters in laws. If the practice in Austria, the Czech Republic, Brussels, the region is that there is no limited number of terms due to the extremely high demand for such highly specialized personnel, if that is the practice everywhere, I don’t know if the sons-in-law are in all those countries,” said Forto.
So, from Edin Forto’s point of view, nothing personal, everything is according to the law and in accordance with the example of European countries. The first attempt failed, but there is no lack of perseverance. Last year, he sent the same law for adoption under the urgent procedure. There was no support in the parliamentary benches, and only a negative opinion followed from the Committee on Transport and Communications. The law was rejected then, now it has a second chance. The return to the procedure was met with criticism. Even by Dragan Čović. Forti’s promptness, judging by the criticisms of the HDZ BiH leader, is not his strong point.
“He should have done that five months ago. That is his obligation,” said Čović.
And the question of whether it is ethical and moral for one person to hold a position for life, it seems, was not to Čović’s liking.
“You can ask the question as you see fit, I will answer you this way – there are laws and these laws should be respected and apply to everyone in the same way,” replied Čović.
Mandate after mandate, when the old one expires, a new one smiles. The outcome in the parliamentary benches is uncertain. The opposition is outraged and warns – Dragan Čović’s wishes for the Troika representatives are a command. While laws and reforms are in the shadows, appointments remain a priority.
“Imagine to what extent the invitation of the state minister has been degraded to fulfill the wishes of a political leader, while you neglect your obligation to write laws and strategies”, commented Safet Kešo, a representative of the SDA in the BiH House of Representatives.
Apart from the opposition, part of the ruling party also opposed or abstained the first time the law was in the procedure. Interestingly, representatives of SNSD also refused to support the law, despite the longest-lasting alliance with HDZ BiH. Whether the positions have changed, and the promises have been fulfilled – the vote will show. However, part of the ruling party still remains skeptical. Most, so far, it seems, questionable.
“I am a supporter of legal solutions where the director’s mandate will be limited in all places where it is possible. I am not a supporter of eternal directors. The number of mandates is not the biggest problem. For me, the bigger problem is whether the best quality personnel are chosen for those positions”, says Albin Muslić, representative of the SDP in the BiH House of Representatives.
Eligible or capable – the eternal dilemma of Bosnia and Herzegovina. society. Party-close or top-quality personnel – one does not necessarily exclude the other, but the first seems to be more common. Close family or political ties are often the main criteria. The millions approved for the purchase of a building for the Indirect Taxation Administration could easily go to the godfather Milorad Dodik, and Dragan Čović’s son-in-law is waiting for the necessary majority to dispose of tens of millions of marks and manage the Bosnian sky. And of course, everything according to the law, because, as Čović says, “laws should be respected”.
