REACTIONS TO SCHMIDT'S DECISION 'A smokescreen for pro-Bosnia forces before imposing a new decision at the request of HDZ'

High Representative Christian Schmidt suspended tonight the Law on Immovable Property Used for the Functioning of Public Administration of Republika Srpska, which was supposed to enter into force tonight at midnight.

Schmidt made the decision after an extraordinary session of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), and after a clear order from the Constitutional Court of BiH 'to react urgently, otherwise irreparable damage could occur'.

This decision by Schmidt has caused numerous reactions in the BiH public, from political officials, as well as political analysts and journalists.

Political scientist Jasmin Mujanović stated that this decision by Schmidt is the minimum required of him given his duties.

'The OHR's suspension of the illegal seizure of land by the Government of Republika Srpska does not correct the illiberal electoral law, which has further deepened the crisis of government formation in the FBiH.

Schmidt's actions today are the minimum required of him given his post. Even so, he should still resign.

The fact that several of Schmidt's parrots in the Bosnian media are trying to make a story out of this is extremely sad and shows how desperate he has become. If he had made any other decision, he would have openly violated his mandate (and now he is doing so 'only' implicitly),' Mujanović stated.

 

The @OHR_BiH's suspension of the RS govt's illegal land seizure does not remedy its illiberal elxn law, which has further deepened the govt formation crisis in the FBiH. Schmidt's actions today are the minimum required of him given his post. And even so, he should still resign.

— Jasmin Mujanović (@JasminMuj) February 27, 2023

Haris Imamović, advisor to the former member of the Presidency of BiH Šefik Džaferović, believes that with this move, Schmidt is trying to appease the Bosniak public before imposing changes to the BiH Federation Constitution.

'Christian Schmidt 'suspended' the RS Property Law just to gain credibility for further changes to the Election Law in the Federation in order to disenfranchise the Bosniak co-president (Refik Lendo, author's note).

I say he 'suspended' the RS Law because Dodik will not obey and there will be no real accountability. Schmidt just wanted to create the perception that he is 'doing some pro-Bosnia things in RS'. He did nothing. Dodik will implement his law.

After making a pro-Bosnia move, Schmidt will now disenfranchise Bosniaks in the Federation of BiH. Dragan Čović is satisfied with Christian Schmidt,' Imamović stated.

 

Christian Schmidt “suspended” RS Property Law just to gain some credibility to further change Election Law in the Federation in order to disenfranchise Bosniak co-president.

I am saying that he “suspended” RS Law because Dodik wont obey & there will be no real accountablity.

— Haris Imamović (@SkenderVakuf) February 27, 2023

Political analyst Reuf Bajrović considers this a 'half-measure'.

'An attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of pro-BiH forces before an attempt to impose a new decision at the request of HDZ. If he were sincere, he would have annulled the RS law immediately,' Bajrović stated.

 

Polumjera. Pokušaj zamazivanja očiju pro-BiH snagama prije pokušaja nametanja nove odluke po želji HDZ.

Da je iskren odmah bi poništio Rs zakon. https://t.co/mLA1hhdGRZ

— Reuf Bajrović (@ReufBajrovic) February 27, 2023

Banja Luka journalist Dragan Bursać reacted sarcastically to Dodik's words that he rejects Schmidt's decision and that the Law on Immovable Property of Republika Srpska remains in force.

'I once rejected my father and mother's decision that I wouldn't break kitchen windows. I energetically rejected it!!!' Bursać stated.

 

Dodik odbacio Schmidtovu odluku: Zakon o nepokretnoj imovini RS-a ostaje na snazi

Bursać: Jednom sam i ja tako odbacio odluku ćaće i matere da se neću baviti razbijanjem kuhinjskih prozora. Energično sam je odbacio!!! pic.twitter.com/Z7uI3YFYye

— Dragan Bursać (@dijalekticar) February 27, 2023