Parliament backs resolution on Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina

On the last day prior to taking a recess for the summer break, MPs in parliament voted on the Homeland Movement's proposed Resolution on Strengthening the Political Position of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The resolution was sponsored by the Homeland Movement Party, a junior member of the HDZ-led coalition. However, for reasons not entirely clear, the Homeland Movement held talks on their proposed resolution with the senior partner in the coalition, the HDZ. These talks ultimately produced an ‘agreed upon’ text that critics noted was a very watered down version of the original.

The new, toothless resolution was put to a vote in parliament on Wednesday, and passed with 83 votes in favour. However, the vote did not pass without commentary, especially between the leaders of the center-right opposition party MOST, Nikola Grmoja, and the President of the Homeland Movement Party, Ivan Penava.

“Penava confirmed today that they had to back away from all of the key points in their proposed resolution under pressure from Zvonimir Frka Petešić and Prime Minister Plenković's other political mentors,” Grmoja told the chamber.

“You started well by focusing on the importance of the issue, but then turned to your personal interpretations. I have clearly said that due to the delicate nature of the issue we need a consensus and we need to stay focused,” Penava responded.

Also at today’s session, at the proposal of the Mandate and Immunity Committee, MPs unanimously stripped SDP MP Boris Piližota of immunity as requested by the State Attorney's Office due to reasonable suspicion of domestic violence and the violation of the rights of a minor.

However, MPs departed for their two-month summer break without reaching an agreement on the election of three new judges to the Constitutional Court, which means this unresolved issue will await them when they return to their benches in September.

Source: HRT