The announcement of High Representative Christian Schmidt’s departure has raised numerous questions about who will succeed him, as well as what kind of policy the new head of the OHR will pursue. Although the name of the future High Representative is not yet known, the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC SB) is expected to make a decision in early June on appointing the person who will take over the leadership of the OHR in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to diplomatic sources, the United States will play a more significant role in the selection and operation of the new High Representative. The Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the US, Sven Alkalaj, stated that discussions regarding the interpretation of the Bonn Powers are still ongoing, emphasizing that “America will be much more active when it comes to the OHR,” and that the choice of the new representative “will not be like it was with Christian Schmidt.”
A more active US role could bring a different approach from the one that marked the mandate of the current High Representative. Schmidt himself admitted that an extremely demanding function awaits his successor.
“Anyone who comes here must know that this is a balancing act between an impossible mission and small steps forward,” Schmidt said.
Members of Parliament from the SDA and SDP parties believe that the survival of the OHR is important until the conditions for its closure are met. SDP Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Saša Magazinović, stated that everyone wants a self-sustaining and functional Bosnia and Herzegovina without foreign influence, adding that fulfilling the “5+2” conditions would mean the state is much stronger than it is today.
On the other hand, SDA MP Šerif Špago believes that the new High Representative will be appointed very quickly and will continue the work of the OHR, likely with a reduced use of the Bonn Powers.
Members of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina also hold differing views on the role of the High Representative. The Chair of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Krišto, stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina should not rely on the High Representative, noting that the institutions lack a legal basis for such a practice.
The Minister of Finance and Treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Srđan Amidžić, said he wishes for there to be no High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina at all, “neither from Russia, Hungary, America, nor Great Britain,” adding that otherwise, the question arises of the state’s capacity to function independently.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, stated that the Bonn Powers should be used as little as possible or not at all, except in extreme situations, assessing that Bosnia and Herzegovina currently has too many such situations.
Political scientist and journalist Elma Karišik believes that radical changes should not be expected from the new High Representative. She emphasized that political power lies with the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and reminded that European officials have also announced that the new High Representative will likely not use the Bonn Powers, but rather the responsibility for key decisions will be left to domestic politicians.
Although individual names of potential candidates have already appeared in public, the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council is expected to make a final decision on Christian Schmidt’s successor at the helm of the OHR in Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 3 and 4.
