CEC BiH: We do not dispute the election of the Mayor of Sarajevo in any way

(Patria) - The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a statement today regarding certain media reports and different interpretations in the public concerning the election of the Mayor of Sarajevo.

In its statement, the CEC BiH interpreted the relevant legal framework governing this procedure.

"Article 13.10, paragraph (3) of the Election Law of BiH clearly stipulates that each city council, or city assembly, elects the mayor and the president of the city council in the manner prescribed by law and the city statute.

In accordance with this, the election of the Mayor of the City of Sarajevo is conducted by the City Council of the City of Sarajevo, as the representative body of the city's citizens, in the procedure established by the Statute of the City of Sarajevo.

The City Council consists of 28 councilors delegated by the municipal councils of the municipalities that make up the City of Sarajevo from among the elected municipal councilors, after which this body, upon its constitution, elects the mayor and deputy mayors.

Regarding the allegations about the verification of candidates for mayor in the City of Sarajevo, the City of Mostar, and the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we emphasize that the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina has carried out the legally prescribed verifications in the process of candidacy of these persons for the representative bodies: the City Council of Mostar, the Novo Sarajevo Municipal Council, and the Assembly of the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the 2024 Local Elections.

The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not dispute the election of the mayor in any way and acts exclusively within the scope of its competencies established by the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina," the institution stated.