House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Standoff: Will Blockades of Elected Officials from the RS Continue?

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PSBiH) should today consider a request by MP Dragan Mektić to discuss the Draft Law on the Termination of the Mandate of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of BiH, in its current composition, under an urgent procedure. If the elected representatives from the RS continue to act today in accordance with the decision of the National Assembly of the RS not to make decisions in state institutions, we will encounter new blockades.

Representatives of the SNSD, HDZ, and Serbian caucuses in the BiH Parliament have submitted a joint Draft Law on the Election of Judges of the Constitutional Court of BiH to the procedure. Both Novaković-Bursać and Stevandić expect that the MPs of these two caucuses at today's session of the House of Representatives will act in accordance with the conclusions of the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska.

We recall, in the House of Peoples recently, all decisions were returned for further harmonization, and legislative proposals were rejected, because the delegates from the Serbian Caucus were against all items, even those concerning their own members personally, such as appointments to various commissions.

Incidentally, Mektić, whose proposal will be considered today, immediately stated that he will not follow Dodik's decision, and in the explanation of the proposal, among other things, he stated that one of the reasons for proposing this law is “restoring public confidence in the work of holders of judicial functions.”

MPs should also consider the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on the Ombudsman for Human Rights of BiH, proposed by the Council of Ministers of BiH.

The Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Financing Institutions of BiH, also proposed by the Council of Ministers of BiH, which envisages the establishment of a budget inspectorate within the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, should also be considered.

The agenda should also include proposals for amendments to the Patent Law, the Law on the Judicial Police of BiH, and the Law on the State Aid System in BiH, proposed by the Council of Ministers of BiH.

Consideration of several reports, information, decisions, parliamentary initiatives, as well as giving consent for the ratification of several agreements and contracts is also planned.