HDZ and SNSD Leave Session: Mektić's Proposal to Dismiss CIK Members Adopted

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Representatives of SNSD and HDZ left the session of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament, which began after the thematic session, after a point proposed by an SDS representative was included on the agenda, seeking the inclusion of a new item to dismiss members of the Central Election Commission whose mandates have expired and to appoint new members. This agenda item was eventually adopted.

Dragan Mektić, an SDS representative, using his parliamentary powers, proposed that an item be included on the agenda for the House to vote on, which would read "Decision on the termination of mandate and on the election and assumption of office of four members of the Central Election Commission".

The item was included on the agenda, but the point proposed by Zlatan Begić (DF), who also proposed an item on the termination of office of CIK members and the assumption of office by one member, was left for later harmonization. Borjana Krišto (HDZ) accused SDA of being behind this proposal.

"I am speaking now as a member of HDZ. While respecting everything my colleagues have said, and considering that proposals for candidates have been submitted, I cannot speak about the candidates' competencies. We have proposals that are already members, Suad Arnautović and Ahmed Šantić. It is evident that this is a proposal from SDA, led by Mektić. You can achieve anything in this House, but I believe this is not just a political crisis but a question of the future of BiH," Krišto said.

Given the expiration of mandates and the fact that the legal procedure was not followed, the Election Law left room for the House of Representatives to appoint CIK members.

"In accordance with its procedure, the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH appoints members of the CIK from a list of candidates. If this list is not submitted to the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament within 30 days before the expiration of the CIK members' mandates, the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament proposes and appoints CIK members," it is stated in the BiH Election Law.
Mektić requested that the members of the CIK whose mandates have expired – Suad Arnautović, Branko Petrić, Novak Božičković, and Ahmet Šantić – be dismissed from their positions.
Zlatan Begić requested the dismissal of Stjepan Mikić and the assumption of office by another person.