Čović – what is on his mind is also in (Ne)um, nervousness about the House of Peoples, no compromise

By: A. Čorbo-Zećo

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There will be no concessions regarding the negotiations on amendments to the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and trade-offs concerning Croatian national interests, stated the President of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) BiH Dragan Čović in Mostar, emphasizing that there will be no concessions when it comes to the equality of Croats in BiH and their legitimate representation.

Čović made this statement in response to a journalist's question about whether he would trade the "House of Peoples to secure his own election to the Presidency."

"These are not topics that will be negotiated. I do not know where the idea comes from that we would sacrifice any position," said Čović.

This is a completely different stance from the one officially presented by Bakir Izetbegović, who clearly stated that 'something must be given to get something in return.' 

But Čović's ultimatum stance distances everyone from a solution and the possibility of an agreement. He even threatened, or perhaps knows something more, saying threateningly that the negotiations in Neum will this time last until an agreement is reached. And what agreements are possible if you are not ready for concessions? The word compromise no longer exists.

International officials who will negotiate with BiH politicians regarding the reform of electoral legislation must be deeply aware of this. 

Furthermore, it is high time that the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina begin to represent all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the upper, national House of Peoples should decide only on national issues important for the constituent peoples, a stance advocated by pro-Bosnian parties.

However, HDZ BiH, without whose consent constitutional amendments are currently not possible, rejects any negotiations regarding the limitation of the powers of the House of Peoples. 

This political party believes that this upper, nationally-conceived House of Peoples is the last step where they can prevent a law from being passed without the consent of HDZ.

But practice has shown that the Houses of Peoples are used as houses that protect party interests and those of their business partners, and not at all for the protection of the people.

Today, the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, Željko Komšić, also spoke about this before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, identifying how the principle of constituent peoples and the Houses of Peoples are tools for corruption and inequality of the vote.

"Today, this is used as a political tool to prevent the normal functioning of the governing institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with complete disregard for fundamental democratic principles, and I consider this unacceptable. For these reasons, there is also the latest appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, concerning the inequality of the vote in the two legislative houses in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Komšić.

The current relations are such that HDZ BiH demands everything, while the other side must not cross the red lines that are currently set at the Houses of Peoples.
Through the Houses of Peoples, both at the state and federal levels, blackmail, blockades, and the creation of crises in the state are carried out; these are indisputable facts and dangers that could lead BiH into an even greater crisis.

Precisely the side that does not budge a millimeter from the ultimatum approach of 'all or nothing' has been abusing the position of the powers of the Houses of Peoples for two decades through the Houses of Peoples, and all this is carried out by the policies of HDZ and SNSD. The technical Government of the FBiH and the filling of the Constitutional Court of the FBiH are direct consequences of HDZ's blockades.

The problem is exclusively the provision stating that a majority of any constituent people's caucus can declare any other issue a vital national interest, and then it enters the realm of abuse. 

If one truly wants to work on reforming the electoral legislation, it is necessary to eliminate this possibility and also reduce the Houses of Peoples to dealing with the issue of vital national interest, as the Council of Peoples in the Republika Srpska does.