From the OHR to NAP: If there is no public health risk, elections should be held

(Patria) - Local elections should be held this year in October. They should, but no one is sure if that will happen.

The Central Election Commission, in response to the media, states that it is monitoring the situation and will act in accordance with developments.

The stance of the Office of the High Representative in BiH (OHR) regarding the possible postponement of elections is not entirely clear, but they leave the final decision to the CEC.

"At this moment, stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving citizens' lives must be priorities for all levels of government in BiH. The OHR is convinced that the Central Election Commission, as well as other competent institutions, are closely monitoring the situation and will make appropriate decisions regarding the local elections at the right time, and will do so in full compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
In principle, if there is no public health risk, elections should be held. That is the only thing that can be said with certainty at this moment. Democracy is the foundation of society, but the final decision should be made by the Central Election Commission, based on expert opinion," the OHR told Patria.

We remind that the CEC calls elections in accordance with the Election Law of BiH 150 days before the election day. Given that the first Sunday in October is reserved for elections, the CEC is obliged to call them in the first week of May.

The election process is further burdened by the still unimplemented judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of "Baralija v. BiH" due to the failure to hold elections in Mostar. The European Court has left the Constitutional Court with the possibility to resolve the situation if political representatives do not reach an agreement.

There is little time, and no solution is in sight.