Čović and Dodik’s Secret Meeting: What’s Behind the Closed Doors?

The leaders of SNSD and HDZ BiH, Čović and Dodik, recently met in secret to discuss the current political situation and the acceleration of the European path. This meeting has sparked interest and speculation among analysts and politicians.

According to Elmedin Konakovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (NiP), “I have no problem with anyone meeting anytime and anywhere – if constructive things are discussed in those meetings. After that meeting, we saw the messages. Anything that can stop the processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there’s really no problem with that.”

Analysts interpret the message for the Troika in two ways. Ancient Velizar believes that “their interests coincide at the state level, first of all, for the reason that they would be a specific counterbalance to Bosniak politicians who try to appropriate the whole country for themselves and present only their interests and put them in the foreground.”

Milan Sitarski, a political analyst close to HDZ Čović, thinks that “Troika parties should not be dissatisfied with the fact that Dodik and Čović met, but they should be satisfied, first of all, with the fact that the HDZ is very favorable to them in the legislative part of the procedure which is relating to the Law on the Constitutional Court.”

The Law on the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The recent events in the House of People have shown that HDZ’s favor towards the Bosniak Club is still evident, and cooperation with SNSD is strengthening. Čović broke his word, justifying different moves with the same rule book, and achieved his goal – he left the Law on the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in order, although the proponent withdrew it.

“There are Rules of Procedure, and according to those Rules of Procedure, the proposer can remove his item from the agenda, if he wishes,” Čović explained on October 10.

“It is a package given as a promise to the Bosniak Club, and if it is not respected at any stage of the process, the Bosniak Club will ask for a break and decide on further participation,” said Kemal Ademović, Deputy Speaker of the BiH House of People (NiP).