The second time, Schmidt used his "Bonn powers" to finance the country's general elections on Oct. The first time he did it was to annul a law on immovable property in Republika Srpska, the Serb-dominated entity. This would be the third time Schmidt uses the so-called "Bonn powers" after assuming office in August 2021. Under the current election law, at least one Bosniak, one Croat, and one Serb delegate are elected from each canton. If the law would be put in place, the founding nations of Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs will lose representatives of their ethnic community in a federation canton if their population there is less than 3%. The expected new law would determine how delegates are chosen from the House of Peoples, the upper chamber of the Bosniak-Croat Federation entity's parliament. 1, the German politician would impose such measures on the functioning of Bosnia's federation. Media reports in July reported that by Aug. While the US Embassy in the capital Sarajevo supported Schmidt's decision, it remains unclear how politicians will react.Įven before Schmidt's announcement, reports were circulating in the country that the high representative would impose a new election law. They will enable all citizens to their voices are heard and to ensure that they are truly represented by those they have elected," he alleged.Īccording to Schmidt, the measures are aimed at improving the functionality of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and ensuring timely implementation of the results of the October 2022 elections. "That is why I have imposed measures that will improve the functionality of the institutions in the Federation of Bosnia Herzegovina. It is crucial for the fate of this country that there are no more blockages. "Necessary legislative or executive decisions lack transparency or they are simply blocked and not implemented. Schmidt said the changes he enacted were necessary for Bosnia to progress on its way to EU candidate status. In his letter, Schmidt said the legal changes would not affect Sunday's elections. Voters are also choosing representatives for the Presidential Council and the national parliament.īosnia Herzegovina's political structure is often dubbed as one of the most complicated in the world. Voters in Bosnia and Herzegovina headed to the polls on Sunday to choose lawmakers at the canton, entity, and national levels, as well as the three members of the Presidential Council.Ībout 3.3 million people are estimated to have voted for members of parliament in the country's two entities - the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska - as well as 10 cantons within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Now, your voting will must be respected," Schmidt said in a letter to the public. You have shown your responsibility by voting democratically. "To the voters, to you, I want to say that, while you were at the polls and voted, I made decisions to ensure that your vote counted and that your democratic will was respected. The High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced on Sunday that he had enacted the controversial electoral law reform, using his "Bonn powers."Īfter polls closed in the Balkan country's presidential and parliamentary votes, Christian Schmidt claimed that he signed two decisions for the functionality and timely implementation of the election results in the document that he called the "functionality package" and added that the decisions were related to the government and coalition building processes.
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