ZAGREB, Mar 5 (Hina) - The International Crisis Group (ICG) on Friday issued a report advocating an electoral reform in Bosnia-Herzegovina under which voters of one ethnic group could also vote for other ethnic groups'
representatives. According to ICG's suggestion, ethnic parties would have to win a certain percentage of votes of other ethnic groups' voters. "Electoral reform offers one promising way to allow Bosnians to choose less confrontational leaders, and so start to accept responsibility for their own future," the ICG report issued in Sarajevo said. The ICG is a private, multinational, non-profit organisation established to help the international community understand and solve world crises with its suggestions. The organisation is based in Brussels and is led by former U.S. senator George Mitchell. The Peace Implementation Council, which monitors the implementation of the
ZAGREB, Mar 5 (Hina) - The International Crisis Group (ICG) on
Friday issued a report advocating an electoral reform in Bosnia-
Herzegovina under which voters of one ethnic group could also vote
for other ethnic groups' representatives.
According to ICG's suggestion, ethnic parties would have to win a
certain percentage of votes of other ethnic groups' voters.
"Electoral reform offers one promising way to allow Bosnians to
choose less confrontational leaders, and so start to accept
responsibility for their own future," the ICG report issued in
Sarajevo said.
The ICG is a private, multinational, non-profit organisation
established to help the international community understand and
solve world crises with its suggestions. The organisation is based
in Brussels and is led by former U.S. senator George Mitchell.
The Peace Implementation Council, which monitors the
implementation of the Dayton peace agreement in Bosnia, at its last
session in Madrid last December 16 urged in its declaration a new
electoral law in Bosnia. The new law should "promote democratic and
multi-ethnic political processes and make the elected officials
accountable to their voters."
"(...) the most direct way to penalise parties which appeal to only
one ethnic group of voters is to give voters of all ethnic groups a
say in who are elected as leaders of each ethnic group," the ICG
report said.
The ICG assesses an electoral system reform could be implemented
through a system of party-list proportional representation for
elected assemblies, despite the limitations imposed by the Dayton
agreement.
The ICG suggest a "multiple-vote system" in which "ethnic" parties"
would each have its own list, while voters would vote on each list.
Another possibility would have voters invited to declare their
ethnic affiliation, while each party would be required to attract a
minimum of support from each ethnic group.
To avoid the electoral reform to be seen in Bosnia as another
foreign imposition, the ICG advocates a public outreach campaign,
to be conducted by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe, to help explain the reform's benefits.
(hina) ha