Secret delegation in the Vatican: With Borjana Krišto, Dragan Čović and Darijan Filipović – state visit or party agenda?

By: A. Čorbo-Zećo

The official announcement from the Cabinet of the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Borjana Krišto, about tomorrow's visit to the Vatican, at first glance, appears to be a routine diplomatic activity, a meeting with Pope Leo XIV, talks with the Secretary of State of the Holy See Pietro Parolin, and a visit to the Pontifical Croatian Institute of St. Jerome. However, what was omitted from the official statement opens the door to serious political questions.

According to information available to Patria, the delegation also includes the leader of HDZ BiH, Dragan Čović, as well as officials Darijan Filipović, Josip Brkić, and Niko Duvnjak.

Their absence from the official statement can hardly be considered accidental, especially in the current political context of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Such selective transparency raises suspicions that a clearly defined political agenda is hidden behind the formal diplomatic framework. At a time when discussions about amendments to the Election Law and the concept of "legitimate representation" are intensifying, it is not unfounded to assume that these issues will be the focus of informal talks in the Vatican. Especially if we consider the candidacy of Slaven Kovačević, whom HDZ does not consider a legitimate Croat!?

In this light, the visit takes on a different character, no longer as an exclusively state act, but as a potential part of a broader pre-election strategy. The inclusion of the HDZ BiH party leadership in the delegation suggests that state institutions are once again being used as a platform for promoting particular political goals.

Furthermore, the symbolism of the Vatican as a meeting place is not insignificant. The Holy See traditionally has a strong influence on issues concerning the Catholic community in BiH, which gives such meetings additional political weight. Precisely for this reason, the omission of the full delegation from official communication represents a problem not only of political ethics but also of institutional transparency.

There is no doubt that this is a carefully orchestrated political move, aimed more at the electorate than at actual diplomatic results that would benefit the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.