SARAJEVO, April 22 (Hina) - An opinion poll conducted recently at the request of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina has shown that the majority of BH citizens believe that the
protection of interests of the three largest ethnic groups is still the most important task of the election system. The results of the poll also show that it will not be possible to make any major changes to the election rules and regulations in the coming period. OSCE spokeswoman in BH Tanya Domi today presented to reporters the results of the opinion poll, conducted for the OSCE by a local company "Prizma". Between March 21 and 25, 3,000 BH citizens, a thousand from each constituent group, were interviewed with the aim of establishing their attitude to elections, elected representatives and political parties. The results show that an ordinary BH citizen pays m
SARAJEVO, April 22 (Hina) - An opinion poll conducted recently at
the request of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina has shown that the
majority of BH citizens believe that the protection of interests of
the three largest ethnic groups is still the most important task of
the election system.
The results of the poll also show that it will not be possible to
make any major changes to the election rules and regulations in the
coming period.
OSCE spokeswoman in BH Tanya Domi today presented to reporters the
results of the opinion poll, conducted for the OSCE by a local
company "Prizma".
Between March 21 and 25, 3,000 BH citizens, a thousand from each
constituent group, were interviewed with the aim of establishing
their attitude to elections, elected representatives and political
parties.
The results show that an ordinary BH citizen pays much attention to
his participation in the election process - 83 per cent of the
interviewed voted in the September elections of 1998.
Almost one half of the interviewed said their ethnic identity was
the main thing governing them in choosing for whom to vote. This
criterion is somewhat less important to Bosniaks than to Croats and
Serbs.
According to Domi, the basic message of the interviewed section of
the electorate is that other issues in the country can be discussed
only after an equal degree of respect for national rights has been
secured.
Issues such as economic growth, development of infrastructure,
social programmes, or even return and reconstruction, are of little
or no importance when it comes to deciding who to vote for.
Most of the interviewed, even 74.2 per cent, are satisfied with the
candidates they voted for, and almost the same percentage believe
that the politicians they voted for answer little or not at all for
their actions.
Every fifth interviewed believes to have certain, but very limited
influence on decisions made by politicians.
The OSCE is to conduct at least two similar polls until the
beginning of the municipal elections, which were earlier announced
for November this year.
The final election date could be published in early July.
(hina) jn rml