The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina is under attack again. The deadline for the Minister of Finance of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the SNSD, Srđan Amidžić, to sign a document to secure funds for the early elections for the President of Republika Srpska has expired. As expected, Amidžić did not sign the decision. Now it is the turn of his deputy, Muhamed Hasanović. Time is running out, and every day is precious for the CEC to prepare for the elections on November 23rd through legal deadlines and public procurement.
There is currently no money to hold the elections. The CEC has requested 6.4 million KM from the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The deadline for securing funds has expired, and Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet adopted a budget for the current year.
The President of the CEC, Irena Hadžiabdić, explained that the law clearly defines how funds are secured during the period of temporary financing.
“The funds during this period are secured from transferred funds of accumulated surplus revenue, from current reserves or from any other source of revenue. We can only initiate all planned public procurement procedures in the CEC once the funds for the implementation of the elections have been secured,” Hadžiabdić emphasized.
The SNSD, however, is using this issue as a means of blocking. The law stipulates that the decision must be signed by the Minister of Finance of BiH within 15 days of the announcement of the elections. Amidžić, following the SNSD policy, previously clearly stated that he would not do so.
“I have never signed such a document. Such a document has always been signed by a deputy and someone gave him the authority. I am aware that we are not prepared to act contrary to the law. I said I would not and I said why I would not,” said Amidžić.
Now everything is in the hands of his deputy. Muhamed Hasanović stated that, if Amidžić maintains his position, he will take responsibility.
“To be completely honest, I will do it if the minister does not sign,” said Hasanović.
Of the total of 6.4 million marks, the largest part is intended for the payment of members of polling stations. The CEC has already appointed presidents and deputy presidents of polling stations for a total of 4,453 candidates, including 83 from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Former CEC member Vehid Šehić warns that without secured funds, the elections may be delayed. He called on the High Representative to react, as he has done before.
“We will see whether the High Representative will react this time and find funds like he previously secured 106 million KM for the purchase of new technologies, because then the Minister of Finance of Bosnia and Herzegovina also did not want to sign the decision,” Šehić emphasized.
This is just one of the blocking mechanisms coming from the RS. We remind you that Milorad Dodik previously said that it would not be possible to hold elections on the territory of the Republika Srpska, and that the SNSD would not have its own candidate.
Taking into account legal deadlines and the time needed for preparations, next week could be a crucial week in which it will be known whether the elections will be held on November 23 or postponed.
