Đonlagić: Proposed Law on the Constitutional Court of BiH in the House of Peoples is officially contrary to the Venice Commission's Opinion

(Patria) - At the continuation of the session of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, if it is held at all, as the Bosniak Caucus has announced they will not attend the session, delegates will consider the request of delegate Želimir Nešković for the urgent procedure consideration of the draft Law on the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The inclusion of this item on the agenda caused the reaction of the Bosniak Caucus, which left the session on March 18. An attempt to continue it was made on Thursday.

In light of the Opinion of the Venice Commission, issued at the request of the BiH Presidency member Željko Komšić, regarding the method of electing judges of the Constitutional Court of BiH, and in relation to Nešković's request, delegate Dženan Đonlagić (DF) from the Bosniak Caucus made a statement.

Đonlagić points out that if he truly desires the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to EU membership, delegate Želimir Nešković should withdraw the proposed Law on the Constitutional Court of BiH in the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly.

"The Venice Commission's Opinion specifically highlighted that ethnic quotas or ethnic parity (2B+2H+2S) cannot be used in the election of judges to the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it constitutes discrimination and undermines the integrity of the Constitutional Court of BiH and is in complete contradiction with European practices. Everything stated in the Opinion as not to be used, delegate Nešković has proposed in the disputed Law (ethnic quotas in the election of judges and the entity criterion in decision-making)," Đonlagić stated.

The Speaker of the House of Peoples of the BiH PA, Dragan Čović, scheduled the continuation of the session for Thursday, June 27.