Discussion on the Pelješac Bridge Declaration

Delegate of HDZ BiH in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH Ljilja Zovko today requested the House of Peoples to consider the Information on the adopted Declaration on the Pelješac Bridge, which was supported by eight votes in favor, four against, and two abstentions. We remind you that the Declaration was adopted by the House of Representatives and published in the Official Gazette of BiH, writes Patria News Agency.

- The Declaration refers to the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH and violates the Constitution of BiH, because the Parliament has both houses and we must consider this issue - Zovko stated.

She said that on behalf of the Club of Croats of the House of Peoples, she proposes this stance: that the declaration is unconstitutional. More precisely, a new Declaration was proposed stating that the adopted Declaration in the House of Representatives of the PSBiH violated the Constitution.

Delegate of SDA Halid Genjac said that there is no way for one house to discuss the constitutionality of the work of another. He stated that it is very inappropriate to talk about the rules of procedure of the other house here and to talk about constitutional powers.

- The House can adopt declarations, decisions, etc. Thus, the house. And it is decided in the prescribed manner. The House of Representatives voted on the declaration according to the rules of procedure. I don't see any procedural issue anywhere. Both the constitutional jurisdiction and the provision of the rules of procedure are clear - Genjac said.

Regarding the proposed text of the resolution proposed by the delegates of the Club of Croats, Genjac said that it states that the House of Peoples calls on the House of Representatives not to violate the Constitution.

- It also states that the House of Peoples informs the Council of Ministers and the Presidency that the Declaration is not an official act of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, but it is. The House of Representatives has assessed and included what is important in the Declaration. Keep in mind that one house cannot place itself above another, and the statements from what you have offered us do not correspond to the procedural rules - Genjac said.

Mario Karamatić said that the Parliamentary Assembly consists of two houses, the House of Representatives and the House of Peoples, and this is a violation of the constitution, and that he will try with all his might to preserve our one and only.

Ognjen Tadić pointed out that if there is a need to defend BiH, then it must first be defended from those who attack it.

- What is an attack, what is a threat to a part of BiH is that BiH will be prevented from free navigation, for one part, what is happening in RS. If we are one side, we should see what our common interests are. Do you expect someone from RS to vote against the Declaration, when crucial things for the people are there. Another thing is that the authors did not ask the Croats if there was anything that interested them, and that Croatia could do here for them - Tadić said.

He added that in the situation we are in, it is best to interrupt the discussion, and to task the Collegium of the House of Peoples to organize a meeting with the Collegium of the House of Representatives to find a solution.

- We do not have the power to invalidate the act of the House of Representatives - Tadić added.

Martin Raguž said that the House of Peoples is not setting a precedent, but the House of Representatives set a precedent by taking over the powers of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH.

- If the House of Peoples did not react, we would be derogating our powers by the Constitution to be equal in the Parliamentary Assembly. The House of Peoples was established as an equal house where voting is different, and when it is bypassed, the Constitution is violated - Raguž said, adding that it is necessary at a minimum to state their position on this precedent.

- I am not interested in the Pelješac Bridge, but whether the institutions are working in accordance with the Constitution.