Public debate organised in Stolac focused on interruption of the electoral process, while the regional conference organised in Mostar focused on not holding of elections in this city since 2008. Regardless the fact that elections in Stolac have been repeated following a violent break, citizens of Stolac agree that the competent institutions have not acted in a fairly and timely manner so citizens are very dissatisfied with court’s sanctions.
Citizens of Mostar are very indignant about not holding of elections in this city since 2008 due to political irresponsibility to address this problem.
“I concluded that elections in Mostar will not be held until the problems are solved in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I am living in Mostar and I am discriminated because I am not able to vote although I have my legal right to vote„ says Jasna Rebac, one of the participants on the conference. She adds that she does not want citizens to be harmed by the same people they elected and invited those competent to finally find the solution to this problem.
Speaking at the regional conference “Elections in Mostar – mission (im) possible”, Vehid Šehic, president of the Strategic Board of the Coalition “Pod lupom”, said that elections in Mostar would be mission possible if there is willingness to conduct elections. Not holding of elections implies that those who should implement the Constitutional Court’s decision are politically irresponsible. Citizens of Mostar should be allowed to realize its rights guaranteed by the Constitution”.
In addition to the above mentioned issues, recommendations of the Coalition were also discussed on these events. These recommendations are result of observation of 2016 Local elections. Participants on events supported all recommendations of the Coalition and agreed it is necessary to improve the electoral process in technical terms in order for this to be modernized, depoliticised and professionalized. Coalition offers 34 recommendations of which 12 are priority for improving the electoral process.
“We dedicate ourselves to depoliticise electoral process as much as it is possible, i.e., to professionalize the work of the members of the electoral committees. First of all through providing that the president of the polling station committee is a non-partisan person with experience in election management or with good knowledge of electoral process as well as through publicly announcing names and last names of all members of polling station committees in order to prevent trade in polling stations, ” said Dario Jovanovic, project director.
Jovanovic added that the Coalition “Pod lupom” also advocates introducing transparent ballot boxes, shortening the voting booth, introducing a ballot scanner….
These events were the eighth / ninth events organised so far, in a series of 13 public events to be organized by the Coalition throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, by the end of 2017.
