Ministers proposed for the new state government in Bosnia

Country’s two mainly Bosniak parties have agreed on their ministerial candidates for the new state government.

Following the end of Bosnia’s prolonged political stalemate at the end of December 2011 and the appointment of the new Prime Minister on January 12, the country’s six main parties have started proposing ministers for the new state government, the Council of Ministers.

Sulejman Tihic, leader of the Party of Democratic Action, SDA, said on January 13 that the security portfiolio will go to Sadik Ahmetovic, who held the position from 2006 to 2010, while defence will go to Muhamed Ibrahimovic, member of parliament in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of Bosnia’s two entities.

“It was very important for our party to get the defence ministry since that post is our priority,” said Tihic, “and the priority for the new minister will be the Membership Action Plan for NATO.”

The SDA leader said on Friday that the new security minister, Ahmetovic, had a successful ministerial career behind him, having presided over Bosnia’s inclusion in the EU’s visa liberalization scheme for the Balkans, in December 2010.