The direct elections of the municipality mayor in BiH Cover Image

Neposredni izbori načelnika opština u BiH
The direct elections of the municipality mayor in BiH

Author(s): Maida Behrem-Stojanov
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Civil Law, Electoral systems, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, EU-Legislation
Published by: Fondacija Centar za javno pravo
Keywords: local selfgovernment; Bosnia and Herzegovina; EU integration process; European Charter;

Summary/Abstract: Accepting the concept of local selfgovernment determined by the European Charter od the local selfgovernment, that BiH ratified, is an important part of the EU integration process. The reform of the local selfgovernment is an on going process which will have to give answers to many questions and problems with regard to the relations between mayors and municipal councils. Since the politics play the most important role in most fields of life in BiH, including the ones that in most European countries belong originally to the local authority, direct election of mayors is a positive step. It gives control to the citizens, who are closest to the mayors, and who are enabled now to elect the mayor amongs their neighbors, colleagues, friends etc. On the other hand, the two legitimacy, that both, the municipal councils and the mayors draw from the people, are often in conflict, which stands in a way for normal municipality /city functioning. Their responsabilities and authorities should therefore be very clearified as well as the usage of the mayor’s recall procedure, in order to increase the responsibility on both sides.

  • Issue Year: 2/2011
  • Issue No: 6
  • Page Range: 30-37
  • Page Count: 8
  • Language: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian