Mandate of Meddžida Kreso Marked by Scandals: Serbs Want the Position of President of the Court of BiH for Themselves

The mandate of the President of the Court of BiH, Meddžida Kreso, expires at the beginning of 2017. However, although there is a little more than a year until the election of her successor, lobbying within the VSTV has already begun, writes the news agency Patria.

Several names, well-known to the public, are in the running.

Thus, with the help of political lobbying circles, the following are vying for the position of President of the Court of BiH: Milorad Novković, former president of the VSTV; Amir Jaganjac, acting president of the Supreme Court of the FBiH; Izo Tankić, judge of the Court of BiH; Milorad Barašin, former chief prosecutor; Jadranka Lokmić-Misirača, vice-president of the VSTV; Branko Perić, judge-columnist; Davorin Jukić, judge of the Court of BiH; and Želimir Barić, president of the Supreme Court of the RS.

The very fact that the President of the Court of BiH determines the composition of the Appellate Division Council of the Court of BiH speaks to the exceptional importance of this function, and therefore it is not surprising that the race for Meddžida Kreso's successor began a year in advance.

When analyzing the current situation, Bosniaks, as the most numerous people, are the least represented in leadership positions. On the other hand, Serbs in the Federation of BiH are also inadequately represented, and for this reason, they are very interested in this position.

Therefore, it is expected that instead of Amir Jaganjac, someone from the Serbian people will come to the position of President of the Supreme Court of the FBiH, because according to the Constitution of the FBiH, Serbs are entitled to at least two positions in the FBiH.

When it comes to the state level, it is evident that the entire security sector is under the control of Serbs, while a Croat is the state Minister of Justice, and Bosniaks do not hold any significant position except for the President of the Court of BiH.

According to information from the VSTV obtained by Patria, regardless of the obvious national imbalance, Serbs also want the position of President of the Court of BiH for themselves.

Of all the names we have listed, unofficially, Novković and Barić have the best chances, although stronger lobbying groups currently stand behind the former president of the VSTV.

And when it comes to the current President of the Court of BiH, Meddžida Kreso, her work results are more than modest.

More precisely, scandals like those involving Željka Bukmir and Azra Miletić, open conflicts with certain judges, and also with part of the political establishment that seeks the establishment of a higher or appellate court to reduce her influence in the appeals process, have characterized her current mandate as President of the Court of BiH.