MPs debate HJPC, Tegeltija continues to defend his attendance at Dodik's rally

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – A thematic session of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly on the state of the judiciary will be held on Wednesday, 11 March, and it will also be attended by the President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, Milan Tegeltija. 

After the House of Representatives did not take note of the HJPC Annual Report for 2017 and 2018, a thematic session was scheduled. 

The same session will also include the Information on the work of the Prosecutor's Office for 2017 and 2018. The Constitutional and Legal Committee of the BiH PA House of Representatives did not take note of the Information on the work of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2018, while the one for 2017 was taken note of.

The President of the HJPC, Milan Tegeltija, found himself at the center of a scandal when, as the head of the HJPC, he attended a political meeting at the invitation of Milorad Dodik. Tegeltija was criticized for his attendance at the political rally, and at the last HJPC session this week, a multi-hour discussion was held. The HJPC adopted a conclusion distancing itself from Tegeltija's attendance at the political rally, stating that it was his personal stance and that he did not consult with the Vice-Presidents of the HJPC or other members. 

High Representative Valentin Inzko, as well as the ambassadors of the Quint (USA, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy), sent criticisms to Tegeltija, who further damaged trust in the judiciary and connected it with politics in the crudest possible way, in this case with the SNSD. 

Tegeltija has defended his attendance at the rally in several public appearances, and the only thing left is to initiate his dismissal, as there is no longer any doubt that Tegeltija is close to the politics of the SNSD, thereby violating the Law on the HJPC.