The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Pod lupom” expresses concern regarding the proposed amendments to the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina, submitted to parliamentary procedure by Marina Pendeš, a delegate in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH (HDZ BiH). The proposal raises serious concerns due to the failure to implement rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, the undermining of the principle of equal suffrage (one person – one vote), further politicization of the Central Election Commission of BiH (CEC BiH), and a lack of inclusivity in the electoral reform process.
Specifically, the HDZ proposal disregards the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, which require the elimination of discriminatory provisions in the electoral process. Furthermore, it undermines international election standards related to equal voting rights—that is, the principle that every vote must carry equal weight (one person – one vote), which is a cornerstone of democratic elections.
Additionally, the proposed law would lead to even greater politicization of the CEC BiH than is currently the case, effectively turning this key electoral institution into a political party branch in the full sense of the word. This would be achieved by proposing that the commission for the selection and appointment of CEC members consist of six members, all of whom are affiliated with political parties (under current provisions, the commission consists of seven members, only three of whom are, at least on paper, party affiliates), and by lowering the criteria for candidates applying to become CEC members.
Furthermore, the proposal fails to include any measures to improve the integrity of the electoral process, particularly those aimed at preventing proven electoral fraud and irregularities. This includes the introduction of new election technologies into the BiH electoral process—a top priority for the “Pod lupom” Coalition.
The “Pod lupom” Coalition concludes that strengthening electoral integrity and democratic culture in BiH requires electoral reform to be conducted through an inclusive dialogue involving all political stakeholders, in accordance with international standards and the rulings of relevant courts.
