Bosnian crisis may reach new phase without foreign aid
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Significance
This completes the process of constituting the various legislatures in Bosnia after the elections in October. Delays and blockages -- due to procedural issues, political quarrels and politicians making extreme demands and driving hard bargains -- have had a knock-on effect on government formation. Such delays risk blocking a new EU initiative for the troubled country at its very outset.
Impacts
- The next stage -- government formation -- could take weeks or even months, time that Bosnia does not have.
- The lack of functioning governments and EU support risks deepening the economic and social crisis.
- The further radicalisation of Bosniak, Croat and Serb nationalist positions could increase security risks.