Bosnia and Herzegovina faces growing calls to scrap the High Representative

Political commentator Miloš Šolaja argued that the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina lacks a legal basis and hampers democratic development, noting that Russia and China opposed the recent appointment of Christian Schmidt. He urged the abolition of the post, saying its continuation would keep Bosnia under external control.

Former high representatives Carl Bildt and Wolfgang Petrich joined the criticism in an op‑ed for the German newspaper FAZ, stating that the civilian institution has lost legitimacy and serves as a “crutch” for local politicians. They called on the European Union and the international community to reconsider the role, highlighting the shift in geopolitical circumstances and the desire of Republika Srpska’s assembly to end the extraordinary international oversight.

Both pieces emphasize that ending the OHR could allow Bosnia to pursue more autonomous political compromises on its path toward European Union integration.