SNSD did not attend the session of the House of Representatives of the BiH PA, 15 MPs voted for Konaković's dismissal

(Patria) - MPs of SNSD and partner parties are not attending today's emergency session of the House of Representatives of the BiH PA because the position of a member of the Collegium of the House from the Serb people has been vacant since January 23rd.

Today's emergency session includes a proposal for the dismissal of Elmedin Konaković, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, submitted by MPs from SDA and DF.

SNSD's earlier proposal to dismiss Konaković did not have the required majority, and given the boycott of the session, only five opposition MPs from Republika Srpska voted for the dismissal. However, this time they will not support the dismissal.

At the last emergency session, the Speaker of the House, Denis Zvizdić, called on the authorized proposers to submit a proposal for the election of the missing member of the Collegium, stating that he would not schedule regular sessions until the Collegium was filled.

Head of the SDP Club, Saša Magazinović, requested a 15-minute break for consultations before the proposer explained the proposal for the reconstruction of the Council of Ministers of BiH.

Head of the SDA Club, Šerif Špago, explained the initiative for the reconstruction of the Council of Ministers of BiH, i.e., the dismissal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, Elmedin Konaković, emphasizing that they made such a decision after Konaković's public hearing and the cancellation of the EU Leaders' Summit in Neum.

"Some of the reasons are stated in the proposal. Minister Konaković's vote was crucial in the decision to approve additional funds for the building at the Indirect Taxation Authority, which increased to 100 million marks. He caused damage to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the citizens of BiH. These days, attempts are being made through certain regime media to compromise this initiative, with statements that his dismissal is an act of treason. I am completely sure that he does not deserve to hold the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs. If the majority in this House continues to support Minister Konaković, that is their responsibility; elections are next year, after all. SDA is in opposition, and we have supported all dismissals of officials from the ruling majority, and we will initiate dismissals as well," Špago said.

MP Safet Kešo (SDA) took the floor for discussion.

"I would be a happy and satisfied man if we had a regular session here with four or five laws to discuss. Clearly, there is no normal situation, no regular sessions, nothing. This composition of the Council of Ministers of BiH has failed more than any other. A fierce debate has erupted in public about whether Konaković should or should not be dismissed. We are not burdened by the outcome of the vote on his dismissal. We are here only to express our political stance. We believed that Konaković, Forto, and Nešić were not up to the task they were elected for. The EU Leaders' Summit failed due to a tender awarded to a subsidiary of Elmedin Konaković's godfather's company. Two members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were on the organizing committee, and Konaković planned and approved funds for the summit in the Ministry. It is unacceptable that Konaković carries the burden of the EUROPOL scheme and walks around the world. People there do not read. Such a person cannot help raise BiH's rating, on the margins, with selfies, to present himself as useful. We want to tell the citizens that such people do not deserve to hold positions in the Council of Ministers of BiH. I remind you that he also said that Minister Nešić was 'pulled through a needle's eye,' and we know where he is today. A minister who allows such ministers to be 'pulled through a needle's eye' does not deserve to be in the Council of Ministers of BiH," Kešo said.

Zvizdić stated that the agreement of the 'trojka' was that no one would speak in the debate because the stated reasons for dismissal were unfounded.

He put the proposal from SDA and DF to a vote. Of the 33 MPs present, 15 voted in favor, and 18 against, thus Konaković's dismissal did not pass.

Four MPs from Republika Srpska, excluding Darko Babalj, voted for the dismissal.

Zvizdić announced that he had received information about a proposal to convene an emergency session of the House of Representatives of the BiH PA regarding the election of the missing member of the Collegium of the House of Representatives of the BiH PA, and scheduled a session of the expanded Collegium.