SARAJEVO, Feb 22 (Hina) - After a general election in Bosnia-Herzegovina was held three months ago, the country on Thursday got a new government led by a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Bosnian Croat Bozidar Matic. The
state parliament on Thursday voted in favour of Matic's candidacy as the chairman of the Council of Ministers (the Bosnian government). Matic was earlier proposed by two of the three members of Bosnia's Presidency. Bozidar Matic (aged 63) has a doctoral degree in technical sciences, is a professor at the school of electric engineering and is the current president of Bosnia's Academy of Arts and Sciences. Prior to the war he was at the helm of Bosnia's most successful big company - ENERGOINVEST. During today's parliamentary session, members of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia (HDZ BiH) walked out in protest before the vote. They explained their conduct with the as
SARAJEVO, Feb 22 (Hina) - After a general election in Bosnia-
Herzegovina was held three months ago, the country on Thursday got a
new government led by a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP),
Bosnian Croat Bozidar Matic.
The state parliament on Thursday voted in favour of Matic's
candidacy as the chairman of the Council of Ministers (the Bosnian
government). Matic was earlier proposed by two of the three members
of Bosnia's Presidency.
Bozidar Matic (aged 63) has a doctoral degree in technical
sciences, is a professor at the school of electric engineering and
is the current president of Bosnia's Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Prior to the war he was at the helm of Bosnia's most successful big
company - ENERGOINVEST.
During today's parliamentary session, members of the Croatian
Democratic Union of Bosnia (HDZ BiH) walked out in protest before
the vote. They explained their conduct with the assertion that the
session was convened contrary to the parliament's rule book and the
country's constitution.
Bosnian Presidency's Croat member, Ante Jelavic, previously
rejected to approve Matic's nomination, claiming that his
candidacy was against the Bosnian Croats' vital interests. First
candidate for the Council's chairman was Martin Raguz of the HDZ
BiH, but he failed to win the confidence from the state parliament.
On Thursday, of 35 MPs who took part in the vote, 22 were for Matic,
three were against, while six abstained.
Upon the ballot, Matic presented the new composition of the
council. Matic will be at the helm of finance sector.
Foreign Minister is Zlatko Lagumdzija, the SDP leader.
European Integration Minister is Dragan Mikerovic of the Party of
Democratic Progress (PDP).
Foreign Trade Minister is Azra Hadziahmetovic, proposed by the
Party for Bosnia-Herzegovina. Her deputy will be Jadranko Prlic,
who was the foreign minister in the previous composition of the
council as a member of the HDZ BiH, and who joined the New Croatian
Initiative (NHI) last night.
NHI leader Kresimir Zubak is the minister in charge of refugees,
displaced people and human rights.
Svetozar Mihajlovic of the Serb National Alliance (SNS) is the
minister in charge of civilian affairs and communications.
(hina) ms