Schmidt violates his own regulations and participates in the campaign of the "Trojka" cadres!

By: Rasim Belko @rasimbelko

He shares ćevapčići. Concerned about air quality. Satisfied with public transport. He is Christian Schmidt and rarely minds his own business. The fact that Milorad Dodik is appropriating state property, that the constitutional order is being undermined and the Dayton Peace Agreement is being jeopardized does not concern him. And that is his mandate and obligation to deal with.

However, who would choose to deal with the job they are paid for, and can get away with not doing it, or doing it in accordance with lobbyist-diplomatic interests, between ćevapi and irresponsible marketing activities?



Whichever way you look at it, Christian Schmidt is more of a promoter and marketing advisor for the "Trojka" coalition and its cadres than the High Representative who should be safeguarding the constitutional Dayton order.

Air quality, public content, and the branding of ćevapčići have nothing to do with the German diplomat at the head of the OHR. The connecting tissue, however, is the fact that Schmidt is a co-creator of "Trojka", which has jeopardized its own existence with bad policies and actions.

And the campaign is knocking on the door. It has already largely begun. That's why they need a figurehead to convince citizens that "Trojka" is doing a good job. American Ambassador Michael Murphy would be a good choice, but he is waiting for an invitation to return home. Schmidt is safer because he will last longer.

That's why the current mayor, Benjamina Karić, needed him to appear with her before the citizens and share ćevapi together. Because, apart from branding ćevapi, which is again not her original idea, Mayor Karić has not initiated or completed a single project. That's why she needs the shield of an influential person, and Schmidt is one. Because Karić, after four poorly spent years at the head of the city, wants to do the same at the head of the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo.

To sell herself to the citizens of that municipality, she needs strong promoters. Schmidt served the purpose, we just don't know what was promised to him in return.

Besides Karić, Schmidt also met with the anemic "Trojka" Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Nihad Uk. Because the marketing planners of the "Trojka" cadres' campaign have clearly realized that the governance of that project is so bad that they need a particularly influential person to praise the projects so that it looks like Sarajevo Canton has progressed under the rule of SDP, NiP, and NS.

The facts that problems have piled up and that citizens' dissatisfaction in KS is growing cannot be easily hidden. Especially not in a case where "Trojka" wants the KS to be an exemplary example for citizens across the country. And in KS, educators, doctors, and young people are currently dissatisfied. Residents complain about a dirty canton and city, public transport has not improved much despite significant investments. Air quality is poor, and "Trojka's" policies are even more polluting.

It is difficult to hide this with populist promises to improve the situation. "Trojka" has used that once, they won't find fertile ground the second time. And that's where Schmidt comes in. He praises the projects and the success of the authorities in Sarajevo Canton so that citizens of other cantons, cities, and municipalities are impressed and opt for "Trojka".

Therefore, it is now up to the Peace Implementation Council to bring Schmidt back within the framework of his mandate. Otherwise, the already questionable credibility of the head of the OHR will be spent for nothing, and any of his future decisions will be difficult to implement.

Just as his changes to the election campaign rules are difficult to implement, which even Schmidt himself is now violating by participating in the campaign of the "Trojka" cadres.

As for his intentions, Bosniaks in Sarajevo Canton and all other cantons have not forgotten that it was precisely thanks to Schmidt that their constitutionally guaranteed right to participate in government was taken away.