The Mantra of a Stable Coalition: All the Opposing Views of HDZ and SDA, the Celebration Over the Questionnaire Was Short-Lived

Bosnia and Herzegovina received a questionnaire with more than 3,000 questions it must answer to obtain EU candidate status, Patria writes.

After a brief celebratory atmosphere, we are back to our reality, and coalition partners are „warring“ with press releases. HDZ BiH and SDA have completely opposing views on many important issues, but apparently lack the strength to resolve them at one of the numerous meetings of their leaders, Dragan Čović and Bakir Izetbegović.

The first and currently biggest unresolved issue between HDZ and SDA is the implementation of the „Sejdić and Finci“ ruling. HDZ BiH responded swiftly with a press release to the coalition partner's accusations of blocking the resolution of the Sejdić and Finci case, and the stance that this ruling is not a condition for BiH's EU membership.

- HDZ BiH emphasizes that it remains consistent in its insistence on reforms that are necessary in the coming period to strengthen institutions, improve the political environment and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Then they remind of the Master Plan signed by Bakir Izetbegović, who now says that the „Sejdić-Finci“ issue cannot be opened until the blockades in the FBiH are resolved.

-  One of the key things from the Master Plan is precisely the implementation of the „Sejdić and Finci“ ruling, i.e., how to resolve the issue of electing members of the Presidency and the House of Peoples in the electoral legislation. Also, HDZ BiH advocates for resolving the ruling related to the City of Mostar and the Constitutional Court's decision on the election of delegates for the House of Peoples – say from HDZ.

On the other hand, from SDA they state that "although resolving the ruling in the „Sejdić–Finci“ case is not a condition for BiH's candidate status, SDA will provide maximum contribution to the swiftest possible implementation of this ruling."

- Given that resolving this issue has been blocked for too long by HDZ's insistence on simultaneously resolving issues that this party is interested in, we expect HDZ to propose such solutions – say from SDA.

So, completely opposing views from the "stable coalition" bring new troubles.

From HDZ they further claim that „individuals and parties who systematically hinder the process of progress and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the path to the EU, who are at the same time the most responsible, persistently refuse to accept the process of solving problems and in every public appearance shift responsibility to the other side“.

-  Very strange criteria and standards of the rule of law have been promoted to us lately from political Sarajevo. Others are being told what they should, must or may do. How to behave. What they may or may not propose, while being accused of blockades, delays and stagnation, and given mostly negative assessments unlike their own attributes – specify from HDZ.

Political Sarajevo is a favorite phrase of Milorad Dodik, the President of RS, and now apparently also a catchphrase of Dragan Čović, who is clear in his efforts to get everything he wants and will not give up on that.

He goes a step further and tells his colleagues that „they do not want to accept at all that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a multi-national state where the same standards must and should apply to all three constituent peoples and every individual, and that achieving these standards is the highest priority of every responsible individual, official and every institution in this country. Efforts to prevent this lead to further depression and stagnation“.

- HDZ BiH calls on coalition partners, in accordance with adopted decisions, to muster enough courage to resolve all problems and issues so that Bosnia and Herzegovina can be a successful, stable and secure country – say from HDZ.

However, for now, no one is yet saying what has been agreed upon. HDZ BiH once again warns that it is impossible to build institutions and the state of BiH when the Court of BiH has made yet another political decision, related to holding elections in Stolac.

On the other hand, a completely different interpretation of this decision by SDA.

- SDA welcomes the decision of the Appellate Chamber of the Court of BiH which annuls the decision of the Election Commission of BiH regarding the elections in the municipality of Stolac. This decision enables the Election Commission to correct its mistakes and, in accordance with the Law, ensure the integrity of the electoral process. Members of the Election Commission who may persist in illegal and politically motivated decisions will be held responsible for the consequences – say from SDA.

And while the war of press releases continues, it is increasingly clear that the coalition is anything but stable, even though from political podiums they regularly repeat the mantra that they are indeed stable. It's just not visible, is it.