(AGENPARL) – ven 24 marzo 2023 [Image]
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Ref. CG011(2023)
Cantonal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Congress welcomes generally peaceful and well organised elections but highlights some areas for improvement
“The elections were generally peaceful and well organised, and in line with the appropriate provisions in most polling stations visited”, highlighted the Rapporteur Stewart Dickson (United Kingdom, ILDG) and welcomed the numerous practical improvements implemented by the election administration to reduce the possibility of electoral fraud.
However, the Congress report identified some areas where there is still room for improvement, notably regarding the media, the equal participation of women in cantonal political life and the lack of transparency of and overview over campaign and party finance. On the Election Day, the Congress recommended reconsidering the set-up of polling stations, the appointment of polling station commissioners and taking additional measures to ensure the secrecy of vote.
In addition, the Congress report invited the authorities to improve the accessibility of polling stations, to review the procedure for assisted voting and to address the recurring issue of voters residing de facto abroad and still voting in cantonal elections.
Furthermore, the Rapporteur reiterated, yet again, the Congress recommendation to organise cantonal elections separately from national polls to avoid regional issues being overshadowed by national concerns. “Trust, interest and willingness to engage in cantonal politics will only be restored by proposing clear political alternatives and programmes to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”, he concluded.
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Institutional Communication Unit
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Leendert Verbeek (Netherlands, SOC/G/PD), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Harald Sonderegger (Austria, EPP/CCE).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
Council of Europe/Conseil de l’Europe, Avenue de l’Europe, Strasbourg, . 67000 France