Because the parliament in Sarajevo has not yet been able to agree on a change to the electoral law, it was passed on Tuesday by the High Representative of the international community in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt. The changes are intended to ensure the correct conduct of elections. Due to his mandate under the 1995 Dayton Peace Treaty, which ended the Bosnian War, Schmidt is allowed to pass laws independently of the government and parliament.
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Local elections are planned in Bosnia-Herzegovina this fall. The country has been an official candidate for accession to the EU since 2022. Last week, at their summit, the EU states gave the green light to start accession negotiations.
Blocked decision-making processes
The Balkan country’s political system is considered very complicated, partly due to its division into two entities: the Croatian-Bosniak Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (FBiH) and the majority ethnic Serb Republika Srpska (RS). In addition, the secessionist tendencies of the nationalist leadership of the RS as well as the different interests of the other ethnic groups blocked many decision-making processes. The former German Agriculture Minister Schmidt (CSU) has been High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina since August 1, 2021.
The changes to the electoral law are intended to control the voting process and the counting of votes more efficiently. There should be more transparency in voter registration. Measures are also planned to prevent voter manipulation, including tougher measures against fake news, as well as greater transparency in campaign and media financing.
Applause from Germany
Applause for Schmidt came from Germany. “In view of repeated deficiencies in the transparency of previous elections, this year’s local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina must no longer be vulnerable to electoral fraud,” said the FDP parliamentary group’s rapporteur for the Western Balkan states, Thomas Hacker. The US Embassy in Sarajevo also welcomed Schmidt’s move. The failure of the parties is the reason why the High Representative had to act,” wrote the embassy on X (formerly Twitter).
