Despite growing time pressure, political parties in the city of Mostar seem to be no closer to agreeing on new election rules in time to hold elections this year. Negotiations to reform the city’s political system and elections laws have been going on, in fits and starts, for several years. In order to hold elections in October, new rules would have to be brought into effect by May, according to the current regime.
The two main parties of the city, the Bosniak Party of Democratic Action, SDA, and the Croatian Democratic Union, HDZBiH, have spent years discussing a compromise on reforming the statute of the city.
So far, however, despite claims of hectic negotiations in the past weeks, no solution is on sight.
Experts have warned that time is running out to adopt a new electoral statute for Mostar.
“We should have a solution at least 30 or 60 days before the date when Bosnian authorities will officially announce new elections, in order to have the time to implement it,” Stjepan Mikic, member of the Bosnian central electoral commission, told the media.
