Bosnia's High Representative Announces Unexpected 'Private Decision' to Resign.

Christian Schmidt holds a press conference in Sarajevo, December 2023. Photo: EPA/FEHIM DEMIR. The High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, has made a “private decision” to resign, the Office of the High Representative, OHR stated on Monday. Announcing the unexpected decision, the OHR said Schmidt has informed the steering board of the Peace Implementation Council, the international body charged with implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement, and requested that the process of appointing his successor be initiated. “He stressed that he would continue to serve as High Representative during the selection process for his successor. Reflecting on his tenure, the second-longest of any High Representative, he said significant progress had been made in strengthening the functionality of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions. However, it is clear that much more remains to be done for Bosnia and Herzegovina to achieve its Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” the OHR said. Schmidt had hoped that the end of his mandate as High Representative would coincide with the successful implementation of the so-called “5+2” agenda – the changes that Bosnia and Herzegovina must complete before the OHR can be closed and the country can run its own affairs without international supervision. But Schmidt stated that Bosnia had yet to implement key reforms, making the work of the OHR still essential. “He called on citizens and political leaders from both entities and all levels of government to further intensify their efforts and work together with his successor on implementing these reforms and achieving key progress on the path towards Euro-Atlantic integration,” the OHR statement added. Schmidt expressed his gratitude to the citizens of Bosnia from whom he had received “exceptional hospitality, warmth and support throughout his mandate. “His tenure was also marked by the development of domestic judicial institutions, with courts acting decisively to protect the country’s constitutional and legal order. Important steps were taken to make domestic institutions more functional and to ensure the integrity of elections,” the statement said. Since the first media reports of his resignation on Sunday night, the political leadership of Bosnia’s Serb-dominated Republika Srpska entity has been in celebratory mood. They never accepted his appointment, arguing it was never confirmed by the UN Security Council. Former Republika Srpska president Milorad Dodik reacted by announcing that he would initiate legal proceedings against Schmidt, without saying where or how. On X, Dodik repeated his position that Schmidt’s arrival in Bosnia was illegitimate. “Christian Schmidt is leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina in the same way he arrived – without legitimacy, without a decision by the UN Security Council and without international law on his side,” Dodik said. He repeated that Schmidt had no legal mandate in Bosnia. The OHR was established under the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement to oversee implementation of the peace deal that ended the 1992-5 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The High Representative is tasked with monitoring implementation of the agreement, coordinating international civilian efforts and ensuring that Bosnia’s institutions comply with the peace framework. The High Representative is appointed by the Peace Implementation Council. Since 1997, the role has included the so-called “Bonn Powers”, which allow him to impose laws and dismiss officials deemed to be obstructing the peace process. Since taking office, Schmidt has used those powers extensively, including making changes to electoral law on election night in October 2022, suspending the Federation entity constitution for 24 hours in order for a new government to be appointed, and amending the criminal code.