Sarajevo Canton faces debate over government formation procedures

The process of forming a new government in Sarajevo Canton has sparked a legal debate regarding the necessity of consensus within the Assembly leadership to appoint a mandate holder.

Semir Efendić, Mayor of Novi Grad Sarajevo and leader of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, argues that the Assembly leadership must reach a consensus to appoint a mandate holder. However, legal analysis of Article 27 of the Sarajevo Canton Constitution suggests that the Speaker of the Assembly appoints the candidate for Prime Minister following consultations with deputy speakers, without explicitly requiring a unanimous consensus or granting individual deputies veto power.

Constitutional expert Davor Trlin noted that the formation of the new government depends on specific constitutional procedures and the composition of the Assembly leadership, rather than just a parliamentary majority. Trlin emphasized that the Assembly leadership must include representatives from various ethnic groups as prescribed by the constitutional framework. He warned that disagreements over these procedures could lead to prolonged delays in government formation, similar to previous political impasses in Bosnia and Herzegovina.