SDA and HDZ BiH have until May to amend the Election Law

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - HDZ BiH, led by Dragan Čović, has not yet proposed a candidate for the President of the Federation of BiH, which is why the process of forming a new FBiH Government cannot begin even in the second year since the General Elections were held. FBiH Government sessions are held continuously, and it is already known that Fadil Novalić (SDA) will remain the Prime Minister of FBiH, and Jelka Milićević (HDZ BiH) will remain the Minister of Finance. In addition to these two parties, the government also includes SBB cadres. The new FBiH Government will include cadres from DF, which is in coalition with SDA and SBB. They have already divided the number of positions among themselves, but not the portfolios. HDZ BiH received six ministerial positions, SDA five, DF three, and SBB two.

The last meeting between Čović and Bakir Izetbegović was held on December 18 in Mostar, where they discussed the Council of Ministers of BiH, the joint appearance of SDA and HDZ BiH in local elections in some municipalities, and regarding the FBiH Government, there was not much optimism.

Izetbegović pointed out that Čović insists on the Election Law that would resolve issues as seen by HNS and HDZ. The conclusion of the SDA Presidency from December 16 is that negotiations on the solutions for the Election Law concerning the City of Mostar should be conducted separately from negotiations concerning other amendments to the Election Law.

“It is unacceptable to link the resolution of the Election Law to the process of establishing the Federal Government. A solution for the Election Law for Mostar needs to be agreed upon as soon as possible to enable the holding of elections in the City of Mostar in 2020, ensuring the equal position of constituent peoples and citizens in the unified City of Mostar, excluding anyone's dominance or discrimination, as well as any division on an ethnic principle,” concluded SDA.

Other necessary amendments to the Election Law must ensure the implementation of all judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitutional Court of BiH. Based on these judgments, the solutions must ensure the equality of all citizens in the electoral process throughout the territory of BiH, excluding the establishment of any electoral units based on ethnic principles, stated SDA.

We remind you that at the beginning of December last year, Čović and Izetbegović held a meeting with high-ranking officials from the USA, OHR, and the EU, where these two parties were asked to find a politically acceptable solution that could be turned into law before the elections scheduled for May 2020. The message from international officials is clear – the citizens of Mostar must vote this year.