SELMAN: END TO HIGH REPRESENTATIVE'S ROLE

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 17 /SRNA/ – The President of the Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska Džerard Selman has stressed today that the practice of intervention by the High Representative should be ended as soon as possible, arguing that it has produced numerous harmful consequences in BiH.

"Granting excessive powers to any institution of a non-democratic nature that has not been established in accordance with the constitution of a country-in this case, the institution of the High Representative undermines democracy, the rule of law, constitutionality, legality and ultimately the legitimacy of the legal order", Selman told the National Assembly of Republika Srpska while presenting information on issues relevant to the protection of constitutionality and legality.

He said that the Constitutional Court of BiH, through its rulings, has effectively affirmed the status of the High Representative by recognizing the constitutionality of his legislative actions while refusing to review them.

"The Constitutional Court of BiH regularly upholds the constitutionality of decisions made by High Representatives regardless of the content of the legal provisions involved, which in many cases have been constitutionally questionable or contrary to the Constitution", Selman added.

According to him, such practice undermines the principle of constitutionality and legality both at the level of BiH and its entities, while preventing the full realization of the rule of law.

"At the same time, it restricts the implementation and protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms. There is no need to further discuss the impact on the unity, functionality and harmonization of the legal system", Selman said.

Lawmakers from both the governing coalition and the opposition agreed that the Office of the High Representative /OHR/ has outlived its purpose and that elected officials in BiH should assume full responsibility for political processes.

They also agreed that High Representatives have acted contrary to the interests of Republika Srpska and that their decisions, which they described as unlawful and unconstitutional, have damaged overall relations within BiH.