Can the initiative to introduce psychological tests for public office holders in BiH pass?

(Patria) - The head of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) caucus in the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Saša Magazinović, has submitted an initiative to introduce mandatory medical examinations for officials in BiH institutions.

Consideration of this initiative is scheduled for December 14, when a session of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly is planned.

This initiative tasks the Council of Ministers of BiH with submitting, within three months, a legislative solution to the parliamentary procedure that introduces mandatory medical examinations for elected and appointed officials in BiH institutions, which includes specific testing of mental-psychological fitness for performing public functions, as well as testing for psychoactive substances.

“Given that these are extremely responsible public functions significant for the wider community, and even the state as a whole, I believe that individuals in the most responsible positions should be, in every sense, including health-wise, capable of performing them,” Magazinović previously stated.

He also reminded that legislation in BiH obliges civil servants and employees to undergo a medical examination upon employment.

However, such a legal obligation does not exist for individuals holding the highest public offices, so ministers, their deputies, representatives, and many others have not even undergone basic medical examinations.