Covic: There is slim chance Election Law will change

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The President of the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH) said Friday, following the HDZ BiH Presidency session, that in order to amend the Election Law it was necessary to obey the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to him, there was a slim chance this was going to happen.

He reiterated the stance of the Croat People's Assembly (HNS) on changes to the Election Law, stressing that these changes must result in the legitimate representation of Croats in state and entity institutions.  

Two years ago the Constitutional Court ruled that some provisions of the Election Law were inconsistent with the state Constitution. Since then the authorities have failed to act in the legally allowed timeframe resulting in a further court ruling to delete two sections of the Election Law that treats the matter of representation in the FBiH House of Peoples.  

Covic announced a meeting with US Ambassador to Bosnia Maureen Cormack, with who mhe would discuss the issue of changes to the electoral legislation. If the Election Law is not amended, he stressed, “absolutely all of us will be losers, Bosnia will be a loser.”  

As for the efforts of political parties to reach aagreement on electoral regulations in the City of Mostar, HDZ BiH leader said he would not allow Mostar to become a case city.  

“The Constitutional Court's decisions should be applied in Mostar too in order to hold elections,” he underlined.  

The local elections in the City of Mostar were last held in 2008. The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina tasked the state Parliament in 2010 to amend the Election Law regarding the provisions which treat the electoral rules in that city. The City Assembly of Mostar was tasked to harmonize the City Statute with the state Constitution. Until today, none of that has happened.