MAZALICA: IS CEC MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO SCHMIDT THAN TO THE ELECTORATE?

BANJA LUKA, DECEMBER 15 /SRNA/ – Head of the SNSD Club in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Srđan Mazalica, has pointed to several facts related to what he described as artificially imposed presidential elections in Republika Srpska: only one level of government was involved, voter turnout was low, the Central Election Commission (CEC) appointed polling station presidents instead of political parties, and that same CEC is still continuing recounts and checks.

"Citizens have every right to be concerned and to doubt whether the CEC is capable of conducting general elections at all levels in less than ten months," Mazalica told SRNA. He stressed that there is a widespread perception that the current composition of the CEC is politically biased and politicized. "A particular burden lies in the fact that Christian Schmidt illegally extended their mandate, even though their original appointment was itself procedurally questionable. This raises the question of whether they feel a greater obligation to Schmidt than to the voters," Mazalica said.