Sarajevo Plenum – Deliberation and Demands

Last week, I had my first opportunity to attend one of the Plenums, citizen forums that have been set up in many towns and cities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina since the protests in February. In Sarajevo, these meet at Dom Mladih, the Youth House.

It was an important meeting as those present voted on the proposed demands to be sent to the Cantonal Assembly here in Sarajevo, and to the Federal Parliament.

The meeting starts with a reminder of house rules, emphasising the fact that while the plenum has moderators, it does not have leaders. The plenums give attendees the space to speak for up to two minutes, and with the support of the room, this can be extended. From these talks, and from working groups, proposals are formulated which go to a vote.

The Plenum heard from representatives visiting from the other Plenums. Of these, the Tuzla representative raised the loudest cheers. In Tuzla they have enjoyed a number of successes, including limiting a range of financial benefits for cantonal assembly members, and the appointment of a new premier, Bahrija Umihanić, a professor of economics. Although the process of appointment was not in line with the Plenum’s hopes, Umihanić attended the meeting of the Plenum in Tuzla on Saturday, suggesting a willingness for dialogue.

In Sarajevo, the demands that had been formulated over preceding weeks were put to a vote, and each received broad support. The Sarajevo Plenum demands to the Cantonal Assembly include a range of social measures, including unemployment benefits, a call for new employment programmes, and space on broadcast media to widen the dialogue represented by the plenum. Demands to the Federal government have been sent to other Plenums, so that a united position can be presented. Already these have the support of Mostar, Tuzla and Bugojno Plenums.

Last Thursday, the local, cantonal demands were to be presented to the Cantonal Assembly, but a scout through the web-based media for that day suggested that it had made little in the way of ripples. Likewise the agenda for today's meeting of the assembly made no mention of it. This reflects something of a loss of the force behind public messages about the level of disappointment with government. The street protests in Sarajevo, while enduring, are much reduced in numbers, and the regular coverage has faded.

There will be elections later this year, but the Plenums are avowedly not endorsing any political party, so for now the issue seems to be one of translating the deliberative work of the Plenums into policy that is considered, adjusted and possibly delivered by representatives chosen in general elections. 

Meeting of the Sarajevo Plenum - 12 March 2014