CEC Members on Attacks by Politicians and Parliamentarians: Are the 2022 Elections Threatened?

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – At today's session of the Central Election Commission, under the agenda item 'other', several CEC members presented their views regarding the continuous attacks and falsehoods being spread against the CEC as an institution and its members. They specifically addressed yesterday's session of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament.

CEC member Suad Arnautović stated that "high officials are spreading notorious falsehoods and lies" and requested that the CEC react in some way.

"State deputies allow themselves to interpret the law, not as it is in judicial practice. When a state deputy or delegate publicly states that we have done something we haven't, I think we should publish judicial documentation of what we have done," said Arnautović.

Ahmet Šantić, a member of the CEC, said that the smear campaign against the CEC has been going on for years, but that it depends on the parties in power.

"What we read in the media, perhaps we have become immune, I regret that we were not present at yesterday's session, so perhaps we would have had the opportunity to say something. I cannot accept terms like CEC members should be 'brutally dismissed', these are terms that have been used, and 'criminally sanctioned' which was said by the highest officials," said Šantić.

Šantić pointed out that during the session it was said that the CEC should not submit reports to the BiH Parliament while it is in its current composition.

"This is our legal obligation and reports from the CEC will go to the BiH Parliament," he said.  

During the session, some delegates said that "the introduction of new technologies" will not happen as long as the Parliament is in its current composition.

"Is this a message to the CEC that we should not proceed with the process of introducing new technologies? We must address this issue. The only thing left for us is the introduction of new technologies, but then our partners must also consider where the electoral process is heading. We are telling them to get serious, these are serious politicians. There are three doctors of science sitting here, everything has a measure, everything has a limit. All our decisions have gone to the BiH Court. We have taken the path of least resistance, but I would tell them to calm down," said Šantić.

CEC member Irena Hadžiabdić said that she has been subjected to attacks on her personal integrity for 11 years.

"I am not at all upset by the statements of politicians because they are untrue, largely aimed at discrediting the institution. Political entities are preparing the ground and acting very populist, inviting us not to send reports, which is a legal obligation, so that they can later say, 'see, they are not sending reports either.' They don't want new technology, should I stop writing a project for two million euros now? No, no, I shouldn't. But if Parliament says they don't want new technologies, then they should explain it to the public," said Hadžiabdić.

She added that the accusations that they are only annulling elections now are unfounded, as it can be verified that they have done so in the past.

"I propose that we stop the war and responding to every attack by politicians, but rather make a brief description and publish court decisions. We have political blocs that attack us, others defend us, and we are caught in the middle," said Hadžiabdić.

Željko Bakalar, President of the CEC, said that he is particularly concerned that for the first time, it has been publicly stated by the highest state officials that there is a call for a public boycott of a state institution that has very clear legal powers.

"If someone is dissatisfied with our decision, that can also be challenged in court. Yesterday, we had very clear calls for every possible type of boycott, and that is what particularly worries me. What is the fate of our further work with such approaches from the supreme legislative body? What awaits us in the next election year, regardless of whether we will conduct them with new technologies, which we have been clearly told they do not want. The public in BiH, our friends from the international community, detect where such messages are coming from, I truly fear that the 2022 elections will be threatened with such an approach," said Bakalar.