The media had speculated that some party members might leave state bodies, but this proved to be unfounded. Party deputies attended Tuesday's session of the Croat-Muslim entity's parliament, while those in the state and entity governments were preparing for the two bodies' sessions.
Party leader Barisa Colak said Ashdown's decision surprised him. "There was not one justified reason for the replacement, in comparison to the other replacements made due to the undermining of the Dayton Agreement. Resorting to such powers has become pointless," Colak told the press.
The leader of the Croatian Peasant Party of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Marko Tadic, said Ashdown's decision was bad for democracy and that it would serve the HDZ BH because it would contribute to the homogenisation of Bosnian Croats.
Ashdown decided to relieve Covic of duties after he refused to step down following charges of abuse of office and power.