Špago: Amendments to the Election Law and BiH Constitution difficult to implement at the current moment, OHR should not interfere!

Interview by: Delvin Kovač

Only naive people can believe that the HDZ will abandon its strategic partnership with the SNSD because, among other things, the representatives of the Trojka have deluded themselves into thinking they have a say and are leading processes at the state level.

This was stated in an interview for the Patria News Agency (NAP) by the Chairman of the SDA Caucus in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PSBiH), Šerif Špago.

In an interview for our portal, Špago spoke about the blockade of the House of Peoples of PSBiH, the inseparable link between Čović and Dodik, the HDZ's insistence on amending the Election Law of BiH, and also commented on the latest developments in the Republika Srpska entity.

HDZ BiH delegates, by not attending the session of the House of Peoples of PSBiH a few days ago, broke the quorum, saving SNSD кадров from dismissal. It seems that the excavator of the NIP leader Elmedin Konaković will remain off due to the strong link between Dragan Čović and Milorad Dodik until the 2026 elections.

Špago: In the past period, I have often stated that only naive people can believe that the HDZ will abandon its strategic partnership with the SNSD because, among other things, the representatives of the Trojka have deluded themselves into thinking they have a say and are leading processes at the state government level. Of course, the HDZ's action is condemnable and a classic anti-constitutional act and support for pro-Russian forces.

Unfortunately, representatives of the international community have not problematized the blockade of the House of Peoples by the HDZ, which has occurred more frequently during the year, not even with a single word. This can also be understood as a message from the HDZ about what will happen if the dismissal of HDZ кадров comes to the agenda, although the primary goal was to retain SNSD кадров in their positions.

Konaković and his associates from Trojka have not understood that they have turned the excavator in the wrong direction, so they are merely silent observers, and unfortunately, voters according to the will of SNSD and HDZ. The latest classic examples are appointments in the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and the vote for Amidžić's budget without any corrections.

Čović said yesterday, among other things, that Dodik should be talked to and that this can only bring good to Bosnia and Herzegovina. How do you view this statement and what good can a conversation with a man who is doing everything to undermine our country actually bring?

Špago: This is a classic disrespect for judicial institutions and the verdicts of the Court of BiH and the Constitutional Court of BiH, by which Dodik was sentenced to prison and banned from holding office. If he presents himself as a "bearer of European values," Čović should know that it is unacceptable in EU member states to negotiate the most important issues of interest to the state with individuals who have been convicted and banned from political functions.

It should be recalled that the policy pursued by Dodik and SNSD in the past period has been anti-European and directed by representatives of Russia, and this can in no way bring good to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dialogue is desirable with individuals and parties who respect the constitutional order, who accept the decisions of state bodies that have determined that our most important foreign policy goals are membership in the EU and NATO alliance. It has been proven that Dodik is not a person with whom agreements can be reached on these issues.

Čović persistently insists on amending the Election Law of BiH. Do you fear that the High Representative Christian Schmidt, before leaving his position – which is often discussed lately – might use his powers and impose amendments to the Election Law according to the wishes of Zagreb and the HDZ?

Špago: Amendments to the election law according to the wishes of the HDZ have been imposed as a "to be or not to be" issue in BiH. We in the SDA believe that the most important aspect of amending the Election Law is to enable the implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in the "Sejdić-Finci" case, etc. Of course, to achieve this, it is necessary to amend the Constitution of BiH, and I think that in the current political situation and in an election year, it is difficult to reach an agreement between political subjects who have their delegates and representatives in the PSBiH.

A potential intervention by the High Representative, in my opinion, would not solve the problem, but would further complicate political relations in BiH, especially since the High Representative does not have the authority to amend the Constitution of BiH. We know that previous amendments to the Election Law and the Constitution of the FBiH made by the High Representative after the 2022 elections have further complicated political relations, especially in the FBiH. I hope that the High Representative will take all this into account and will not decide on such a course of action.

How do you view the latest developments in RS, from Dodik's announcements that there will be no elections, that he will remain president of RS, that he does not respect BiH judiciary, to the trampling of those words and the annulment of conclusions and laws in the NSRS, and then to the lifting of US sanctions against him and his closest associates. The Trojka claims that the state has won, and they mostly attribute the credit to themselves. However, it appears that Dodik remains the president of SNSD, which in a way makes him a "shadow ruler".

Špago: The recent events in the Republika Srpska entity are solely aimed at allowing Dodik to continue to independently manage all processes in the entity in order to protect himself from numerous affairs in which he and his closest associates have participated, especially those involving large financial obligations.

Unfortunately, a narrative has been imposed, especially in the National Assembly, about the endangerment of the Serb people and RS from political Sarajevo, from Schmidt, from the West, and the main goal of adopting unconstitutional conclusions and laws is to sideline the "Viaduct" affair - worth 110 million KM, "Kumove zgrade" - worth 100 million KM, losses of over 210 million KM from the Growth Plan due to SNSD ministers who did not support the Reform Agenda…

What can be said about the majority deputies in the RS Assembly when they vote for unconstitutional conclusions and laws one day to "defend the Serb people and RS," and the next day present the annulment of those conclusions as a "historic victory."

The lifting of US sanctions against Dodik and others was well paid for by various lobbyists, but what is particularly important is that Dodik and SNSD have probably had to accept many other things. I am primarily thinking of the functioning and strengthening of state institutions and the unquestionable Euro-Atlantic perspective of BiH. Time will tell.

I would comment on the Trojka's claims that "the state has won thanks to them" by saying that the state has won despite the Trojka's activities, reminding the public of the statements by Trojka ministers regarding the (non)arrest of Dodik, that Trojka кадров in security agencies, despite the warrants for Dodik and others, transported them in official vehicles to the Court of BiH, even though they were obliged to arrest them.

Is the removal of Dodik from the blacklist the Trojka's merit, given that the creation and conduct of international policy, including activities related to meetings and discussions with representatives of the new US administration, are in their hands?

The verdict and stance of the Court of BiH that Dodik cannot even be the president of SNSD is clear, and all those who do not respect the verdict must be prosecuted. I am sure that the state of BiH, its bodies, will prevail in that case as well, regardless of the current delays in the execution of that verdict.