FTV as a Bargaining Chip: The Troika on Its Knees Before Čović, They Haven't Mastered the Lesson of 'Compromise' with Dodik

Written by: Amina Čorbo-Zećo

HDZ cadres have for years publicly called for non-payment of the RTV fee because they do not consider the Radio-Television of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as their own. The battle for positions has been going on for years, and now they are extremely interested in Federal Television when it comes to appointing the Supervisory Board.

The Troika is following the old path of compromise. It is incomprehensible that they remain on this principle, even though they have felt the results of the compromise in the case of Milorad Dodik all too well – as have all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Now, when they are backed into a corner due to Dodik's secessionist policies and are 'urgently' removing him from power (even though they never had to enter a coalition with him in the first place), the other partner is sending its invoices. It was pitiful to watch and listen to representatives of Our Party and the SDP as they answered the question of whether they would raise their hands for Zoran Krešić on April 2 at the session of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH.

Hiding behind the fact that the FTV Supervisory Board is managed by only one person and that the director has held the position for 14 years, they resorted to a well-worn excuse – 'the SDA did the same thing before us.' However, taking on the burden of the agreement, more precisely the blackmail of Dragan Čović towards the leaders of the Troika, shows that they are ready to agree to illegal moves.

They call on the opposition to sue and appeal if they consider the process illegal, while in reality they only care about giving Čović what he could not have dreamed of getting. And in return – he allows them to distance themselves from Dodik at the state level. Thus, the strong connection between Dodik and Čović is proven once again, as well as their mutual assistance on the path of dismantling Bosnia and Herzegovina.

But the Troika does not give up. They are so fixated on compromise that they do not even dare to ask Čović not to make it Zoran Krešić. And they will raise their hand for a person for whom their favorite United States Embassy has clearly stated that his calls for the division of BiH are destructive, and that this makes him unqualified for any position. The government will, nevertheless, ignore this and accept only the recommendations of the OHR.

The current law mentions the appointment of the full composition, but only upon the initial appointment. However, the government emphasizes – 'this is the second time for the first time!' Actually, members are elected gradually, precisely to avoid political influence. The Troika, however, behaves as if they will never be in opposition again.

The Commission for Information of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH also warned about the appointment of Zoran Krešić to the Supervisory Board of the Federal Radio-Television. However, the Appointment Commission and the Working Group simply excluded them from the process. They excluded everything that could be an obstacle on the path to the controversial appointment.

It is even more incredible that the SDP, which calls itself a civic party, supports a man who openly calls for a clash of civilizations and the revival of the so-called Herceg-Bosna. At the recent Main Board of the SDP, taking over FTV was even listed among the party's priorities – more important even than overthrowing the constitutional order of BiH!

When it comes to internal party elections and Nermin Nikšić's eternal stay at the head of the SDP, they then invoke the 'difficult situation in BiH.' But when it comes to pleasing Dragan Čović, then the situation is stable!

Such moves are not only politically controversial, but also long-term harmful for Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, it seems that the leaders of the Troika do not see beyond short-term agreements and the chairs they currently hold in their hands.