BNLD welcomes the comeback of the democratic processes in the City of Mostar.

Citizens of Mostar have finally voted for their city councillors on December 20th on the first local elections held in 12 years.

This ethnically divided city of Bosnia and Herzegovina has not held an election since 2008 because two main ruling national political parties representing Croats and Bosniaks were unable to agree on electoral rules. Ever since the city has had numerous problems in functioning and its citizens were pretty much the hostages of this abnormal situation.

Although it seems that after these elections, nothing significant has changed while the same political parties have won again, the fact is that over these 12 years some new options have begun to mature, specifically consolidating and rising from the civic and activist ground.

During this period our member Local Democracy Agency Mostar was the well known catalyst for change in the local community and one of the factors responsible for the re-establishment of the election process as well as an active participant in the observation of the elections.

Re-establishing democratic processes in the city of Mostar are the key for better dialogue at the higher state levels as well as maintaining better relations and dialogue with the rest of the region.

BNLD and its members are committed to continue its active support to the development of the democratic processes at the local level through the great effort and perseverance of its Local Democracy Agencies and ALDA.