Hundreds of party officials at HDZ gathering in Neum: State officials Robert Vidović and Josip Merdžo among them

(Patria) - The HDZ BiH retreat was held in Neum on Friday, October 3, attended by hundreds of party officials.

"Through three panel discussions that addressed all prominent internal and foreign policy issues, the retreat gathered several hundred party officials from all levels of government in BiH," stated HDZ BiH.

Given that numerous public office holders, elected and appointed officials, are visible in the photographs, the question arises as to how they justified their absence from regular activities and workplaces, especially senior civil servants.

For example, the retreat was attended by the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Robert Vidović, and the Director of the Institute for Intellectual Property of BiH, Josip Merdžo, who is also the Secretary-General of HNS. At the last session of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament, Josip Merdžo's political role was questioned, given that he is a senior civil servant who regularly appears at party activities.

The Law on Civil Service in the Institutions of BiH, in Article 16, states that a civil servant shall not hold a position, engage in an activity, or hold a post that leads to a conflict of interest with their official duties, and in particular, a civil servant may not be a member of management or other boards of political parties and shall not follow the instructions of political parties. A civil servant is obliged to provide all information about the activities and functions they perform when appointed to the position of a 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. He has headed the Institute for Intellectual Property of BiH since 2016 and received a new mandate in 2023.

At this party gathering, Merdžo gave a thematic lecture titled "Attempts at Unitarization through Judicial Activism." The lecture "Kovačević Case" was led by the Minister of Justice of BiH, Davor Bunoza.

Vidović's attendance at the retreat is also questionable, as his position as Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers of BiH represents the highest professional position of a civil servant in the country, immediately below politically appointed ministers.

A person in this position heads the General Secretariat, a key operational unit that coordinates the work of the Council of Ministers, prepares sessions, and manages administrative protocols. A high level of professional, ethical, and academic integrity is expected from the Secretary-General, as they have access to the most important processes of state executive power. However, it is evident that Vidović enjoys significant protection within HDZ, as he has held several positions within BiH institutions over the years before being appointed Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers of BiH.

"The HDZ BiH retreat in Neum gathered hundreds of officials from all levels of government, confirming the party's strong commitment to further leading Bosnia and Herzegovina's European path. Participants highlighted key achievements in realizing the rights of the Croatian people, the importance of legitimate representation in government, and the need to continue consistent political action for the stability, equality, and prosperity of the country. The discussions and panels held further confirmed that HDZ BiH remains the key holder of the political vision of the Croatian people and a reliable partner in strengthening European standards and integration in Bosnia and Herzegovina," the HDZ statement reads.