High Representative Valentin Inzko and Principal Deputy High Representative Roderick Moore met today in Sarajevo with SDA President Sulejman Tihic. Discussions included the upcoming municipal elections and the situation in Mostar.
High Representative Inzko called for the parties to step up their efforts to implement the BiH Constitutional Court ruling on the electoral system in Mostar ahead of the next municipal elections. “Time is running out for the necessary reforms to be adopted”, Inzko warned. “A solution must be found before May if municipal elections are to be called in Mostar.”
The High Representative urged political parties to engage in a domestic process so as to allow elections to proceed. “The Constitutional Court’s decision is limited to specifically how elections are conducted: this can be implemented with minimal changes,” said High Representative Inzko.
Speaking of the proposal to change the timing of local elections, Inzko said that this would be an issue for the domestic institutions to consider in line with the Constitution and applicable laws. He noted there were a number of options for changing the mandates of the municipal authorities that would be in line with internationally accepted democratic standards so that in future municipal and general elections could be held at the same time.