How Helez, Konaković, and Hurtić Contributed to Discrimination: Out of 16 Directors, Only Three Bosniaks Appointed

(Patria) - The 32nd regular session of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament will be held on Wednesday, October 15th, with parliamentary questions and initiatives being the first item on the agenda. For this session, a parliamentary question has been prepared for the Minister of Defense of BiH, Zukan Helez, by MP Šemsudin Mehmedović.

Given that Mehmedović, along with MP Jasmin Emrić, raised the issue of national representation in BiH institutions and the imbalance of Bosniaks in leadership positions and within the institutions themselves, this question also pertains to that topic.

“Contrary to the Constitution and laws, 16 directors and the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers have been appointed during the current term of the Council of Ministers, in such a way that out of 17 positions, only three Bosniaks were appointed, meaning less than 20 percent, while the Constitution and laws stipulate that there must be 50 percent Bosniaks. Eight Serbs and six Croats were appointed, and in addition to ministers from HDZ and SNSD, ministers Helez, Konaković, and Hurtić also voted for such appointments. It is paradoxical that it was precisely the ministers from the Bosniak constituent people who contributed to the systemic discrimination of Bosniaks, thereby grossly violating the Constitution and laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Furthermore, it seems that the Bosniak ministers do not find it problematic that in 67 institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where proportional national representation of employees must be ensured in accordance with the ethnic structure of the population according to the last census, as of December 20, 2024, there are 7,966 employees, and that out of the total number, contrary to the law, only 41.8 percent are Bosniaks, meaning 664 Bosniaks fewer, while there are 431 Serbs more and 246 Croats more than the legally determined number,” stated Mehmedović.

He further points out that the current situation is even worse, as Serbs and Croats consistently “excel” in competitions, while there are “not enough qualified and educated Bosniaks,” especially when members of the competition commissions are appointed by Anita Markić, the HDZ director of the Civil Service Agency of BiH.

“Despite the gross discrimination against Bosniaks carried out by strategic partners HDZ and SNSD, Minister Helez remains silent and undertakes absolutely nothing to stop the discrimination and employment detrimental to Bosniaks in the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially the lack of Bosniaks in leadership positions,” he concluded.

He also submitted tables of appointed leaders in 16 state institutions during the current term of the BiH Council of Ministers.