A Letter from 1998: How Alija Izetbegović Formed the Government, and How It Is Done Today

After the 1998 General Elections, the first President of the Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and President of the SDA, Alija Izetbegović, sent a letter to all party committees and personnel commissions giving instructions on how to form the government, i.e., distribute positions, writes the Patria news agency.

In that year's elections, it is worth recalling, Izetbegović won more than half a million votes.

Izetbegović demanded that care be taken that no one can hold two or more positions which, by their description or nature, require full-time engagement (full working hours and permanent employment).

-This has sometimes been the case so far. The only exception can be university professors for a limited number of hours. No one can receive full salaries for two positions, which has also been the case, Izetbegović wrote at the time.

-A person who owns (or a member of his immediate family owns) a private company cannot hold any important state position. Let them run the company.

It should not be allowed for individuals to be on the boards of directors of several companies or institutions. Also, it would be useful to engage retirees, experts from relevant fields who have the time and experience to help executive bodies... The behavior of some company directors regarding the employment of war veterans should be reviewed. Those who did not employ veterans when they could cannot remain in their positions.

Propose fighters (combative people who have their own views and defend them) for positions, not bureaucrats, wrote Alija Izetbegović on October 20, 1998.

Are the instructions from 17 years ago respected today?