What about the majority: Izetbegović "regrets" the departure of two MPs, previously sought Šepić's expulsion

The situation on the political scene in Bosnia and Herzegovina is difficult, and this has finally been acknowledged by some leaders of the parties forming the majority, writes Patria.

First and foremost, Bakir Izetbegović, the leader of the SDA, who after an unsuccessful meeting with the HDZ literally stated that they failed to agree on anything, despite needing to reach an agreement on important issues such as the Election Law, the implementation of the "Sejdić-Finci" ruling, the solution for the City of Mostar, etc...

However, now that he has admitted there is no agreement with Dragan Čović, the president of the HDZ, Izetbegović is shifting the blame to Senad Šepić and Salko Sokolović, who have confirmed they will not return to the SDA MPs' Caucus in the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament.

Izetbegović thus stated that they should not have done this "at a time when we extended hands to each other" and in a complex political situation in BiH, where there are increasingly open discussions about the ambitions of certain circles to achieve war objectives through peaceful means.

Moreover, Izetbegović has never explained why the demands of the four dissenting MPs, as the media called them, who repeatedly sent letters and requests aimed at strengthening the democratization of the SDA, were not fully met. Such a statement by Izetbegović lacks valid argumentation, as he sought Šepić's expulsion at the SDA Presidency, and when he did not have the majority for such a request, the sanctions against Šepić, initiated by the SDA Local Board Cazin, were withdrawn.

The statement by the SDA leader when he publicly declared that SDA MPs must not vote against the budget has also not been forgotten, and precisely two SDA MPs (Šepić and Sokolović) voted against the state budget proposed by the Council of Ministers, which includes this party.

Given that Sadik Ahmetović and Šemsudin Mehmedović have returned under the SDA's umbrella, stating that "they can achieve better things from within to democratize the party," it is to be believed that all MPs will always attend parliamentary sessions to maintain the parliamentary majority.

It should not be forgotten that the group of four, and now two, have not been acting within the SDA Caucus for a long time, but they have always voted positively for pro-state laws, while also blocking ideas that could jeopardize BiH (imaginary electoral units – Election Law, etc.). 

The total majority in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH consists of 22 deputies, meaning the ruling coalition in BiH now has only a two-vote surplus.

Now, without the duo Sokolović - Šepić, the SDA Caucus has eight deputies, the HDZ Caucus has five deputies, with Diana Zelenika (HDZ 1990) often voting differently from the others, the SBB Caucus consists of four deputies, and the SDS Caucus has seven deputies. That makes a total of 24; an overall majority exists, but only on the condition that no deputy is absent, abstains, or is sick.

Otherwise, the number of counted votes must be at least equal to the quorum, which according to the Rules of Procedure is 22 deputies, with the condition that at least one-third of the deputies from each entity are present, unless otherwise stipulated by the BiH Constitution or Rules of Procedure for deciding on certain matters, which will apply, for example, to all constitutional changes, which will also be necessary for the implementation of the "Sejdić-Finci" ruling.