The High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Christian Schmidt, decided on Wednesday, July 27, changes to the BiH Electoral Law.
“Elections are not a currency for settling accounts between parties, it is the right of every voter, so I am satisfied that I can return the elections to the voters. Today I am bringing a package of transparency, which guarantees a free and fair campaign”, declared Schmidt.
Among other things, the legal changes triple the fines for violating the BiH Electoral Law, which can now reach up to 30,000 marks (more than 15,000 euros).
Also, the BiH Central Election Commission is given the opportunity to remove an individual from the list of candidates or a party that seriously violates the law, while hate speech is also defined and prohibited.
The use of electronic, written and online media, as well as social networks in the pre-election campaign is also regulated.
Elected officials and employees in public institutions are prohibited from campaigning in institutions during working hours.
The decision of the High Representative does not impose legal changes related to the way representatives and delegates are elected.
The High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina said that local politicians, unfortunately, failed to agree on the fiber changes, neither during the talks in Neum nor in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“It remained for me to do this and I did it, not to satisfy any party, but to satisfy the wishes of the people”, emphasized Schmidt.
Schmidt emphasized that he “does not tolerate inciting and warmongering rhetoric”.
“This does not refer to a certain party or politician. There are many who speak and act irresponsibly,” said Schmidt.
The High Representative said that the Dayton Agreement is the foundation of this country and that brought peace.
“On the road from Dayton to Brussels there are still many obstacles, first of all, to remove the terrible, unacceptable blockade of the institutions, in order to enter into talks with Brussels”, he said.
Based on the conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference, which was held in Bonn on December 9 and 10, 1997, the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina has the authority to impose and amend laws, amend constitutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. and dismissed elected, appointed and other political officials.
Due to the disagreements of local politicians, the former High Representatives have imposed more than 900 different decisions, including the decision on the presentation of the flag and the music of the BiH anthem, the laws on citizenship, the law on the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a state government, changed the Electoral Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Statute of the City of Mostar.
Using the powers of Bonn, former High Representative Valentin Inzko imposed changes to the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina in July last year, which criminalize denial of genocide and other war crimes, as well as glorification of war criminals./Radio Free Europe
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