OSCE supports expert debate on election legislation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

SARAJEVO, 18 September 2013 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, in co-operation with the Constitutional and Legal Committees of BiH Parliament, supported an expert debate on the electoral legislation with focus on election administration, candidate lists and mandates, in Sarajevo today.

BiH parliamentarians and the representatives of Central Election Commission took part in the discussion held in the run-up for the forthcoming general election in BiH, in October 2014.

“Since its introduction in 2001, the Election Law of BiH was amended 18 times, often within a few months or even days before the Election Day,” said Nina Suomalainen, Deputy Head of OSCE Mission to BiH. “Last minute changes to election legal framework may impact negatively the quality of legislation adopted, election administration in general and voter confidence in particular.”

“Without the proper involvement of BiH Parliamentary Assembly, a democratically elected body playing a crucial role in making decisions on legislative changes, the Parliament transparency of the legislative process might be undermined and compromised,” said Suomalainen.

While recognizing the overall complexity of the process, Suomalainen highlighted the Mission’s commitment to further assist the parliamentary discussion on the possible changes to the electoral legislation and adoption of amendments to the BiH Election Law.

Peter Eicher, independent election expert from the US, discussed existing international practices in amending election legislation and presented different solutions for specific issues.

Suomalainen also stressed the importance of the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights ruling in the case of Sejdic and Finci v. BiH.  “Resolving this case is crucial to advance BiH’s integration into the EU, a key priority of the country as stated by its leaders.”

The implementation of this ruling, as well as of the decisions of the BiH Constitutional Court on Mostar and names of municipalities in Republika Srpska would enable BiH Central Election Commission to call for the 2014 elections in a timely manner, she said.