Reaction to the political pressures of the BiH CEC
In line with Article 2.9 of the BiH Election Law the Central Election Commission of BiH is an independent body, which derives its authority from and reports directly to, the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH. One of the statutory authorizations of the BiH CEC is to initiate amendments to the BiH Election Law.
Due to current epidemiological situation in BiH, the BiH Central Election Commission unanimously adopted the Initiative to launch a procedure for adoption of the Law supplementing the BiH Election Law, and had submitted it to the BiH Parliamentary Assembly.
The BiH CEC has with the aforementioned initiative initiated minimum changes to the BiH Election Law through an addenda to the BiH Election Law, which would enable the BiH CEC to pass a decision on postponing announcement and holding of elections in order to prevent conduct of electoral activities from the BiH Election Law at the time the state of natural disaster is declared i.e. at the time of extraordinary situation.
Valuing the interest of the public to be accurately and objectively informed, we underline that the Initiative is not based on forecast of the development of the epidemiological situation in October when the regular election should be held in line with the BiH Election Law as it has been constantly and wrongly published by some media outlets.
The Initiative is founded on indisputable fact that in April, when the BiH CEC should be conducting preparatory activities preceding the announcement of elections, we are facing serious epidemiological situation, as well as on the fact that it is quite likely that the epidemiological situation will be the same in May.
Therefore, the BiH CEC has reacted responsibly and in a timely fashion, having in mind the deadlines for conduct of electoral activities, some of which start running immediately after adoption of the Decision on announcing and holding the elections i.e. in May already.
The BiH CEC has never questioned the importance of free elections in a democratic system nor will it be ever questioned.
In that regard we find the political pressures exerted on the BiH CEC through numerous media appearances unacceptable.
We hope that all democratically elected members of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly recognize the purpose, reasons and objectives of the Initiative, and they will by its adoption or through other solutions they deem better and of higher quality ensure statutory assumptions for conduct of free elections, which includes unhindered and safe conduct of electoral activities during the election period, starting from the day elections are announced until the Election Day.