Nikšić: It is illusory to talk about amending the Election Law while an open secessionist attack is underway

(Patria) - We have an open secessionist attack, and it is completely illusory to talk about amending the Constitution and the Election Law in a situation where the National Assembly of Republika Srpska has made such conclusions and such decisions, said Nermin Nikšić, president of SDP BiH and a Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for BHRT.

Appearing on the BHT1 uživo show, Nikšić commented, among other things, on the political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the blockade of state institutions. He stated that the current situation on the BiH political scene has "become a usual practice".

"Ever since we have had this government in the Federation of BiH and the Republika Srpska entity, we have had a permanent crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Disagreements between the entity governments, the non-functioning of the Council of Ministers and state authorities, and it seems to me that we have been in temporary financing ever since this Council of Ministers existed," Nikšić believes.

In light of the current political crisis, Nikšić recalled the situation from the period when he served as Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Back in 2012, when I was prime minister and when we had a government together with SDA both in the Council of Ministers and in the Federation, the SDA voted against the budget of state institutions because an increase from 890 million to 960 million KM for the functioning of state institutions was too little for them. Today, nine years after it was too little for SDA then, and they have been in power continuously since then, the budget for state institutions is identical, down to the convertible mark. This actually shows how principled everyone is in all of this and how much this story about fighting for the state and its institutions depends solely on whether you are part of the government or not," Nikšić recalls.

The leader of SDP BiH assesses that the current crisis is the biggest in post-Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Sessions are held when there is a specific interest and when they need to achieve and push through that interest. This was precisely one of the key reasons why the Social Democratic Party took this stance when it comes to talks about amending the Election Law and constitutional reform. We made a decision to freeze our participation in these negotiations for the simple reason that we do not want to behave as if the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is completely normal. We have an open secessionist attack, preparation and the first steps towards the secession of a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it is completely illusory to talk about amending the Constitution and the Election Law in a situation where the National Assembly of Republika Srpska has made such conclusions and such decisions," Nikšić is categorical.

He emphasized that SDP BiH is ready to participate in any activity that would involve unblocking the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"There is no other way but through dialogue, by returning discussions to the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Council of Ministers, and the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Discussing the decisions of the NSRS as well, so that everyone presents their arguments. Let's put all problems and all issues on the table. Unilateral decisions and unilateral moves are not possible. We have an open secessionist attack through the NSRS decisions, but no less of an attack on the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina was planned by the governments of the Republika Srpska and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entities through abnormal, enormous increases in electricity prices and an attack on businessmen," Nikšić notes.

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina also does not have an adopted budget for the next year. After pensioners in the Federation of BiH were left without pension increases, as well as regular adjustments, Nikšić warns that citizens are once again left to their own devices.

"Ever since this Government has been in power, citizens have been left to their own devices. This Government shows such an blatant lack of empathy towards any category of the population. They also show a lack of sensitivity to the situation in the country, as if they do not live here at all. When you listen to their government, the situation here is better in terms of economy and business than in Germany. Of course, citizens are left to their own devices, and there is no magic wand or overnight solution here. The only solution is what should happen in October 2022, and for it to truly be up to the voters and not the counters, and for citizens to finally send these people where they belong," said, among other things, Nermin Nikšić, president of SDP BiH and a Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in his conversation with BHRT.