prijava
SARAJEVO, July 13 (FENA) - The Interdepartmental Working Group for Amendments to the Election Legislation of BiH today discussed proposals for amendments to the Election Law of BiH related to Chapter 6 - "Protection of Electoral Rights" and Chapter 7 - "Rules of Conduct in the Election Campaign".
Chairwoman of the Interdepartmental Working Group, Alma Čolo (SDA), told reporters that they were working on the recommendations of the ODIHR, the OSCE, Transparency International, and that what was included in the proposal of the BiH Central Election Commission was on the agenda as well.
“We have discussed a lot of items and we have a consensus regarding certain things, and in the end we will vote on every amendment to the Election Law,” stated Čolo.
Today, the Interdepartmental Working Group discussed, among other things, whether the deadlines defined by the valid law be shortened.
Čolo said that the organizations that observe the elections also said that the deadlines should be shortened, noting that the deadline is five months from the day of announcing to the day of holding the elections.
She said that a member of the Interdepartmental Working Group, Damir Arnaut (Our Party), suggested that they consult the CEC of BiH, that they propose shortening the deadlines, but that proposal was not accepted.
The Interdepartmental Working Group discussed, among other things, voting by mail.
A member of the Interdepartmental Working Group, Snježana Novaković-Bursać (SNSD), assessed that the period from the moment of announcing the elections to the moment of announcing the results is unacceptably long.
Member of the Interdepartmental Working Group Saša Magazinović (SDPBiH) is also of the opinion that the deadlines should be shortened, "because we have experience in the countries of the region, and abroad where it is much faster, not only preparing elections but also counting, announcing results."
When it comes to voting abroad, he states that there are two approaches.
“One is when we talk about people who were forcibly expelled from BiH, who are victims of war and who feel an emotional connection to the state that they want, among other things, to participate by voting. The second group of people are those who left BiH voluntarily, they are connected to BiH in a much different way, they have decided to live permanently, of their own free will, somewhere else. It is logical to ask the question whether in my municipality these people should elect for those who live there,” said Magazinović.
Member of the Interdepartmental Working Group Damir Arnaut (Our Party) said that it was clear to everyone, whoever participated in the election process or followed it, that it all take too long. He mentioned that elections are being announced at the beginning of May, and voting is taking place at the beginning of October.
A two-day session of the Interdepartmental Working Group for Amendments to the Election Legislation of BiH has also been announced for next week, during which proposals for amendments to the remaining chapters of the Election Law of BiH will be considered.
(FENA) A. B.
