An unusual situation that still nobody is able to respond to or resolve is seen nowadays in the City of Istocno Sarajevo, Bosnian capital city's neighbouring community, that appears to be ruled by two mayors.

Ljubisa Cosic is newly elected mayor and has received the certificate starting his term this Monday. However, the term of Nenad Vukovic, the old mayor, expires in March 2021.

They both claim the same powers.

But, the most concerning part is the fact that none of the institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina has the answer to who the actual mayor is; should the old hand over the duty or if they should wait March 2021, when his term expires.

According to Vukovic, neither the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina nor any other institution in charge had the answer.

“It tells us how complex this situation is and that the institutions of both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska (Bosnia's semi-autonomous region where the city is located) have no answer,” he told Nezavisne daily.

Cosic, however, claims the law is on his side. He explained that Vukovic was assigned with the mandate in line with old regulations but that the legislation was in the meantime amended.

“The situation is crystal clear,” he stressed.

“The Law on Governance and Local Self-governance clearly regulates the duty takeover, and the Statute of the City of Istocno Sarajevo tells the takeover has to take place within eight days after the day when competent body issues the certificate. The Central Election Commission has delivered the certificate and it is all clear here,” explained Cosic.

Bosnia and Herzegovina held the local election in November this year when voters elected the heads of 120 municipalities and 21 city mayors as well as the local assemblies and city councils.