The Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board expresses strong concern over the actions taken by the Federation President, in which the Federation Vice-Presidents initially concurred, to appoint judges to the Federation Constitutional Court while disregarding the relevant responsibilities of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council and the Federation Parliament as specified in the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Steering Board emphasises that the Federation President’s decision of 3 February constitutes an attack on state level institutions and the fundamental principle of independence of the judiciary from political interference. In accordance with the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the PIC Steering Board emphasizes that only candidates proposed by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council may be nominated, who then need to be approved by the House of Peoples of the Federation Parliamentfor their appointment.
The PIC Steering Board, therefore, calls on the Federation President to repeal her decision without delay.