Čović's deadline expires: No announced talks on Election Law with the 'Troika', nor finalization of 'European laws'

(Patria) - Although HDZ BiH President Dragan Čović announced talks for this week on amendments to the BiH Election Law, first with the partners forming the government in the Federation of BiH, and then with representatives of Republika Srpska, the meeting did not take place. At least, the public has not been informed about it. Dragan Čović and Nermin Nikšić had a brief meeting on Monday during the commemoration of Neum Municipality Day.

In the meantime, the visit of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg occurred, which also caused friction between SNSD and HDZ BiH. Milorad Dodik objected that SNSD and Republika Srpska representatives were not present at the meeting with the BiH Council of Ministers Chairperson. The night before, Stoltenberg had a working dinner with members of the BiH Presidency, where Željka Cvijanović was also present.

However, SNSD believes they should have been invited to the meeting at the BiH Council of Ministers as well. Just yesterday, Dodik announced that SNSD's further support for Borjana Krišto is questionable, and Staša Košarac, BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, repeated this today.

Although Čović, as well as the leaders of the 'Troika' parties, announced that the so-called 'European laws' would be adopted by the beginning of December and that the finalization was underway, it is questionable how things will proceed.

At the session of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly on November 20th, there were no laws, nor are there any such laws on the agenda for the session of the House of Peoples scheduled for November 23rd. These laws include the Law on Courts of BiH, the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, the Law on Conflict of Interest, and the agreement with FRONTEX.

The leader of HDZ BiH has had a partnership relationship with Dodik for years, but it is now unclear whether there will be a change in relations within the BiH Council of Ministers as announced by SNSD. At the same time, Dodik uses all his public appearances to announce peaceful separation and secession. The 'Troika' has not reacted to Dodik's latest announcements yesterday, while no reaction was expected from Čović, as he himself made very questionable statements on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of the so-called HZ HB.

It was November 13th when Čović announced that negotiations on the BiH Election Law and other laws would be intensified within 20 days. The beginning of December is also approaching, when the European Council will convene, where the situation in BiH is expected to be discussed. After BiH received 'conditional negotiations' upon fulfilling certain obligations, the state coalition has not moved forward even a millimeter since then.

Even if the state coalition were to reach an agreement in the next few days, there is very little time for it to be adopted by the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, especially given the newly emerged situation and the announcements of withholding further support for Krišto.