Josip Merdžo alongside Čović at HNS: Violation of the Law on Civil Service does not concern HDZ's cadres Krišto and Bunoza

(Patria) - Although the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the initiative of MP Šemsudin Mehmedović two months ago, obliging the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Justice to take measures against Josip Merdžo, director of the Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a senior civil servant because he has simultaneously held the position of Secretary General of the Croatian National Assembly (HNS) for years, neither the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina nor the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina have taken any action. The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina is headed by Borjana Krišto (HDZ BiH), and the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina is headed by Davor Bunoza (HDZ BiH).

Merdžo also attended the HNS session in Mostar on March 28, as confirmed by photographs submitted with the press release.

Patria has previously written about Merdžo, who from the position of Secretary General of the HNS expresses views contrary to the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He commented on the ruling of the court in Strasbourg in the case of Slaven Kovačević, and in October 2024, he said that a Croatian federal unit could be the product of the wrong policy of part of the Bosniaks. This statement by Merdžo remained without an adequate response, even though he violated the Law on Civil Service in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Article 16 of the Law states that a civil servant must not perform a duty, activity, or hold a position that leads to a conflict of interest with his official duties, and in particular that a civil servant cannot be a member of management and other boards of political parties and must not follow instructions from political parties. A civil servant is obliged to present all information about the activities and functions he performs upon appointment to the position of civil servant.

Merdžo regularly participates in the political activities of HDZ and HNS, conducts training at HDZ political academies, all while receiving a high salary from the state budget.

On the other hand, Merdžo has been at the head of the Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2016, and received a new mandate in 2023.

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Merdžo enjoys all the benefits of civil service, while as Secretary General of HNS he threatens to establish a Croatian federal unit

At the head of the Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2016 is Josip Merdžo, a cadre of HDZ BiH. The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina appointed him at its session on May 11, 2023, for another five-year term. Although before his appointment

Regarding the national structure of the Institute, Bosniaks hold fewer positions than they are entitled to.

Of the 45 employees, 19 are Croats, nine are Bosniaks, nine are Serbs, three are from the "others" category, and five employees do not declare their nationality. Of the five managerial positions, none are held by Bosniaks. Four positions are held by Croats and one by a Serb.

The Institute's headquarters are in Mostar, where there are 26 employees (18 Croats, two Bosniaks, three Serbs, one from the "others" category), the Institute's branch in Sarajevo has 13 employees (seven Bosniaks, three Serbs, one Croat, and two from the "others" category). The branch in Banja Luka has six employees, including three Serbs and three employees who do not declare their nationality.