Đonlagić: Trojka once again conceded to Dodik, the European path is handed over to Moscow

(Patria) - Delegate in the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament Dženan Đonlagić commented tonight for Dnevnik D of Federal Television on the meeting of the ruling coalition leaders in Banja Luka.

At that meeting, we remind you, an agreement was reached today on the chief BiH negotiator with the EU, who will be a Serb, and Đonlagić assesses that it is evident that the Trojka (the coalition of SDP, NiP, and NS) has once again conceded to Milorad Dodik's political demands.

- When Nermin Nikšić came out to announce the results, he spoke of some kind of atmosphere, Dragan Čović, as usual, spoke of some good direction, and then when Dodik practically stood before the microphones for the second time, he actually revealed what the result of the agreement was and why he was satisfied with today's meeting.

And that is that the chief negotiator of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the European Union will actually be his man from SNSD. This is more than certain tonight - stated Đonlagić.

He added that if the Trojka really confirms that person, Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to the European Union will actually fall into the hands of Moscow.

- I have no doubt that this is pro-Russian policy. So, Dodik was in Russia again recently. Russia wants influence in the Western Balkans through Republika Srpska and Serbia, and this time.

So, the path of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union is being handed over to pro-Russian policy, i.e., Moscow. I cannot believe they have bowed their heads once again - stated Đonlagić.

When asked if the position of chief negotiator of BiH with the EU is permanent, or from mandate to mandate, he said:

"Well, we won't be so unserious as to change the position of the chief negotiator with every election. So, the logic that Nikšić agreed to in Banja Luka is again appointment based on ethnic criteria. Dodik said that very clearly on camera.

The EU enlargement methodology, fulfilling all clusters, fulfilling all standards and criteria, cannot be changed from one election cycle to another.

BiH's image would be significantly shaken if we rotated the chief negotiator position in every election cycle. Serious countries, when they appoint a chief negotiator and when he appoints his team, then that team actually works until the end".

He also answered the question of whether it is okay to discredit from the start the fact that the negotiator will be a Serb, if we don't know how professional he is or not, i.e., from SNSD:

"We know Dodik's political platform and we know SNSD's political platform. They advocate for pro-Russian interests in BiH. He is the only official from BiH and the EU who meets with Putin. If that is not clear to someone and if someone needs to have their eyes opened, then I really don't know what this Trojka is doing".

Đonlagić further states that only Dodik and Čović knew their political demands and goals from the beginning, and that government, from the perspective of the Trojka, functions only in the context of appointing and placing people in positions.

- Only appointments were what they realized in a political sense. For the benefit of the state, they have not put forward any political demands to their coalition partners at all - he stated.

Đonlagić also touched upon the new majority in the House of Peoples of BiH, saying that one positive thing has happened that has not been present on the BiH political scene for a long time.

- I don't remember when a political decision at the level of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina was made without the votes of both HDZ and SNSD. Well, that happened. We managed to make a certain political decision and send a political message that it is possible, that decisions can be made even without the votes of HDZ and SNSD.

This actually means that the Trojka had a choice when the state government was formed and that they could have bypassed Dodik and SNSD when forming the Council of Ministers of BiH. It happened that the opposition in the House of Peoples managed to establish a majority. So, 8 out of 15 - stated Đonlagić.

He says they sent a political message to the majority to get serious and that they no longer have a comfortable majority in the House of Peoples. He also explained whether the Collegium of the House of Peoples will be reconstructed.

- Ilija Cvitanović can replace Čović. These eight delegates, or eight votes, can do everything concerning the House of Peoples. We have not yet made a final decision.

This is a topic that we will consider in the coming period. But, what is certain is that the ruling majority - Trojka, HDZ, and SNSD, it is time for them to get serious and start submitting laws to the parliamentary procedure. There are no laws - Đonlagić is categorical.

He added that "quality, prepared European laws naturally have our support." He then referred to the Kovačević verdict, emphasizing that it showed that the citizens of BiH are discriminated against. The verdict is important and differs from others.

- This is not about ethnic criteria and how someone declares themselves. That is completely irrelevant. So, the message here is that a person is discriminated against based on their place of residence. And that must be rectified. All verdicts, sooner or later, will have to be implemented. A generation that will implement it will have to come - Đonlagić is clear.

He also commented on the role of the High Representative in the mentioned case.

- It is evident that he planned to address personally, and he will address indirectly, probably through a British law firm. He will probably present his information and his perspective on it through lawyers. I think that, above all, is something that is outside his mandate and I think it undermines both his credibility and the function he holds.

His statement that this verdict leads to political instability is interesting because at the time when the European Court made the first ruling, a kind of first-instance ruling, he spoke affirmatively about that ruling and said, I support that ruling, that should be a way to eliminate discrimination.

And then, after a year, his complete transformation occurred. He went so far as to say that the verdict could endanger stability and peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Somehow, that corresponds with HDZ's terminology - there will be unrest in the south. So, it is evident here that there has been lobbying and influence from official Zagreb towards Christian Schmidt - says Đonlagić.

Finally, he spoke about fiscal reform, emphasizing that 'what the Federal Government presented at the press conference is not fiscal reform'.

- This is a cosmetic change of certain regulations, and what they have done is actually an indicator that they lack the courage and economic policy and vision to undertake changes to the set of fiscal laws that would involve relieving the economy, on the one hand, which would then result in wage growth in the real sector.

This is an attempt, some intermediate step, which actually means cosmetic changes for 200 KM non-taxable income, so that employers could potentially pay workers, because it says there based on work performance, if that condition is met.

So, again, it will be left to the employers' discretion to see if someone has met business or work performance, so they can potentially increase not their salary but their income by 200 KM non-taxable.

There is no law on minimum wage, which they promised back in January last year would be 1,000 KM. Inflation in BiH has already swallowed that amount. It is no longer realistic compared to a year ago. So, this is not fiscal reform, this is throwing dust in the eyes of both workers and employers - concluded Đonlagić.