Croatian leaders have slated the election of Zeljko Komsic as the Croat representative on the Bosnian state presidency – with the Prime Minister saying that Dragan Covic deserved re-election for his work.
Croatia’s Prime Minister and President have criticised the election of Zeljko Komsic as the Croat representative on the three-member Bosnian state presidency, saying it will not be good for the Bosnian Croat people and for Bosnia and Herzegovina in general.
Following Sunday’s election, the three members of the collective head of state will now be Milorad Dodik, outgoing President of Bosnia’s mainly Serbian entity, Republika Srpska and head of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, SNSD, Sefik Dzaferovic, from the main Bosniak Party of Democratic Action, SDA, and Komsic, from the Democratic Front.
“The incumbent representative of the Croatian people, Dragan Covic, made key strides, with Croatia’s support, on Bosnia’s road to the EU. I think that fact could and should have been respected. It would not be good for this scenario to be repeated,” Croatian Prime Minister Plenkovic said.
Komsic’s election is unwelcome to the Croatian government, led by the Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, because Covic, the candidate of its Bosnian sister branch, lost his seat, Zarko Puhovski, a Croatian political analyst, explained to BIRN.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina requires our recommitment in institution building and the equality of its constitutive peoples and citizens,” Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović stated on Monday.
“Croatia’s approach has been based on our profound understanding of the internal complexities of our neighbouring and closest state, which could easily backtrack after yesterday’s elections,” she added.
Although Komsic will now formally represent Bosnia’s Croats on the Bosnian Presidency, many Croats say he owes his victory to the votes of the much larger Bosniak, or Muslim, community.
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