Bosnia and Herzegovina Captured by the Interests of Six Individuals

The act of amending very important laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as the Election Law, the Law on Conflict of Interest, the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, the Law on Civil Service etc. by the agreement of just six people, under urgent amendment procedure and without any public debate, represents dictatorial and undemocratic act of the ruling parties.

Political parties in power, and their six leaders, hereby try and officially confirm that they have absolute control over all processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, positioning themselves above the legislation, and by the amendments to the Law on Civil Service and the Law on Conflict of Interests they additionally verify their power as well as the complete immunity to sanctions for violating the law.

Such behavior of the political parties, and the fact that none of the authorized institutions on which the implementation of these laws would have devastating effects have not reacted, show  that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a democratic country, but the state captured by the six individuals.

In the next few days, signatories of the statement shall send their open letter regarding the amendments to the laws to the Council of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regardless of their efforts to hide the amendments to the laws from public insight. At the same time, we are taking the opportunity to invite all other civil society groups to oppose the destruction of the legal framework and parliamentary democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Signatories of the statement:

Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina

Centers for Civic Initiatives

Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina

UG Why not?

Helsinki Committee for Human Rights RS

Center for the Promotion of Civil Society

The European Research Center