SDP BiH: SDA is trying to abolish legislative power through the back door

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Unfortunately, our dark premonitions, stated yesterday in the announcement by the Social Democratic Party of BiH Club in the House of Representatives of the Federation Parliament, have come true. Today's decision to cancel the session of the House of Representatives represents an attack by SDA on the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federation of BiH, the SDP stated in a press release.

"Clearly, following the example of its coalition partner Milorad Dodik, whose measures they are copying with a delay, SDA has figured out how to introduce a state of emergency and suspend the work of parliament in the Federation as well. While Milorad Dodik formally covered his decision with a decision by his obedient followers in the National Assembly of RS, in the Federation, SDA is trying to do this, like a bad copy, through the back door by blocking the work of Parliament. The decision to cancel the Parliament session due to alleged concern for the health of parliamentarians is scandalous, while at the same time a wide range of workers, from healthcare workers, miners, to workers in supermarkets, public administration, and factories, who are trying to maintain production, perform their business activities daily and are very often insufficiently protected," the Social Democratic Party of BiH believes.

"This is the peak of arrogance and misunderstanding of the situation in which Bosnia and Herzegovina currently finds itself. Since not everyone in the ruling coalition thinks the same, as the clubs of HDZ and DF have declared themselves in favor of holding the session, it is evident that this attempt is exclusively an SDA initiative, which is trying to abolish all legislative bodies in this way, without caring about the health of citizens or the recovery of Bosnia and Herzegovina's economy. What it would mean for the Federation if all power were transferred to the hands of Fadil Novalić and the government he leads, at the whim of SDA, is best known to those who are forced to expect concrete help and measures that are nowhere in sight these days. SDP BiH calls on all parliamentary parties to support holding the session tomorrow at the collegium in the Sarajevo Youth Center or at any other location, in order to adopt amendments to the rules of procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic and enable the work of Parliament and the adoption of necessary laws and measures. This would enable deputies to help citizens and the obviously struggling economy as quickly as possible through their work," it is added.

If the session is not held, SDP BiH will gather signatures to convene a session.

"Parliaments must work and help the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While in Croatia, at the suggestion of the president, they are considering the possibility for the Parliament to make decisions by a two-thirds majority during the crisis, here SDA is trying, in the manner of Aleksandar Vučić, to suspend the legislative power in the FBiH. The Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina will do everything to thwart SDA's intentions to abolish legislative power. Finally, SDP expects and demands from the competent institutions, as was the case with the decisions of the Crisis Staff in Canton 10, that the same procedure be initiated against those responsible in Sarajevo Canton, who made similar measures contrary to the decisions of the federal Crisis Staff," the SDP BiH states.