Milanović and Plenković: elections in BiH should be postponed if election reforms cannot be achieved

In late January the most recent bid to reach an agreement between the leaders of the three constituent peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina with regard to sweeping election law reforms, fell through. Bosnia and Herzegovina is expected to hold general elections in October.

Croatian President Zoran Milanović said in Zagreb on Friday that neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina urgently needs election law reforms that will finally allow Croats to election their own representatives: "Insomuch as an agreement is not reached then the elections should not be held under any circumstances, and maybe it's not much, but I will do everything in my power to ensure that they are not held. But at the same time, the diplomacy coming from the European Union is advocating a position that is absolutely at odds with Croatian national interests."

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković discussed the issue with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels on Thursday. Commenting on their talks and Croatia’s position with regard to election law reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina today, the prime minister said that Croatia position has not changed: "The position of the Croatian Government is very clear, it is better to allow more time for negotiations, and if necessary postpone the foreseen date for the elections in October, than to hold the elections under the current system. If elections are held under the current system, we already know what will happen. That would be bad for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and catastrophic for Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina."

Since mid-2021, Matthew Palmer of the US Department of State and Angelina Eichhorst of the European External Action Service have been involved in negotiations on changing the electoral law and constitution in Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure the equal rights of all three constituent peoples in that country.

Source: HRT