OSCE urges authorities in BiH to ensure integrity and transparency of 2024 local elections

(Patria) - Less than 11 months before the local elections scheduled for October 2024, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Brian Aggeler, notes that the authorities in BiH have still not aligned the BiH Election Law with international standards and best practices of democratic elections.

The necessary amendments have been clearly and repeatedly pointed out, including after the previous general elections held in October 2022, by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), including in its Final Election Observation Report published in February 2023, as well as by the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission).

The OSCE Mission to BiH calls on the competent authorities to ensure the integrity and transparency of the 2024 local elections, thereby minimizing the possibility of electoral fraud. The authorities in BiH bear the responsibility to create the conditions necessary to restore citizens' trust in the integrity of the electoral process.

This includes the consistent application of procedural safeguards, the secrecy of the vote, and all other measures aimed at preventing electoral corruption, fraud, and irregularities.

Therefore, we call on the authorities in BiH to amend the Election Law swiftly and with full respect for international standards, including transparency and inclusiveness. Once adequately amended, the Election Law must then be properly and fairly implemented.

Furthermore, the OSCE Mission to BiH recognizes the key role of the Central Election Commission (CEC) in the electoral process and calls on all political actors to preserve the independence of the CEC and to protect the CEC from political influence or interference. We also oppose any action that could undermine the integrity and impartiality of the CEC and its members.