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European Western Balkans (05 September 2019)

One-month deadline for the formation of a new government in Bosnia and Herzegovina, agreed upon by party leaders on 5 August, has expired today, and the issue will return in focus only after the party congress of the ruling SDA on 14 September.

According to Nezavisne, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić stated that there is no problem in nominating Zoran Tegeltija of SNSD as the new Chairman of the Council of Ministers (equivalent to the Prime Minister), but that the main obstacle is unwillingness of SNSD leader and Presidency member Milorad Dodik to send the Annual National Programme in the context of NATO Membership Action Plan.

“The ball is now in his side of the court”, stated Komšić.

On the other hand, President of the Republic of Srpska (RS) entity Željka Cvijanović, also an SNSD member, accused the politicians of the Bosnian-Croatian entity of manipulating the will of the people, and denied any impact of RS’s relations with Russia on the deadlock.

Relations with NATO have been the primary point of disagreement over the formation of the new government for months. Outgoing head of EU Delgation Lars-Gunnar Wigemark has even suggested new elections as a possible solutions but, according to Avaz, this is an unlikely scenario.

The general election took place in October 2018 and the current situation is threatening to leave the country with a technical government for more than a year.

https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2019/09/05/informal-deadline-for-government-formation-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina-expires/