The formation of special departments for the fight against corruption and organized crime at the Prosecutor's Office and the Supreme Court of the Federation has long been on the list of promises. Following the example of Croatia, colloquially called federal USKOK has been waiting for money and accommodation for years. After 100 days in office, Federation Prime Minister Nermin Niksic is re-actualizing the establishment of this institution, claiming that they are already looking for a solution. The first step is to build a palace of justice.
Equal treatment for the same criminal offenses, crime and corruption - the Federation of BiH has been waiting for almost a decade. Instead of 10 cantonal prosecutor's offices, one supreme, entity institution. The plan to establish a special department to fight corruption and crime remained only a plan. The anti-corruption laws passed did not take hold. There was no money for the building. The story dates back to the previous term of the current Prime Minister Nermin Niksic. At that time, he made the first steps with the Government, and now announces a solution: "I have been talking about this for a long time and we have had certain meetings with HJPC, with representatives from the Prosecutor's Office, the Constitutional Court of the Federation. I think that very soon we will find a solution for accommodation and federal USKOK."
The ruling majority is determined to eradicate corruption in BiH. society. The current practice does not produce results because judicial institutions are subject to political influence, and therefore they say - a single system is needed in which there will be no such thing.
"If this is raised to the federal level and if we have the same arsines from one place and the same acts are treated, then the trust of citizens in the judiciary will be restored," said Elvir Karajbić, SDP representative in the FBiH Parliament.
While the government announces a quick solution to the long-awaited federal USKOK, the opposition says that they are not familiar with the details, but that they are ready to support. They have not yet received the materials, so they do not expect concrete steps quickly. At least not until next year.
As Admir Čavalić, president of the SBiH Caucus in the FBiH House of Representatives, says, if this is an additional step forward, then he will certainly have their unreserved support: "If this is an additional complication, then we will consider it further. This government is prone to big announcements, but when it comes to implementation, we have not witnessed any great efficiency so far."
"Objective functioning, not bias in the work of a given institution. Why? Because we don't want a witch hunt, we really want a hunt for organized crime," said SDA's Muamer Zukić, president of the Bosniak Club in the FBiH House of Peoples.
Bosnia and Herzegovina on the infamous lists of corrupt countries of Europe and the world mostly occupies positions at the very top. An institutional solution to this problem at least in the Federation could bring us down a few places lower.
"The experience of European countries when the level of crime reaches such a measure is that it should be given special attention, and it seems to me that in BiH now is that moment. Where the state grows stronger, corruption weakens," said lawyer Vlado Adamović.
However, three decades of dysfunctional justice system, in which quality laws remain only a letter on paper, do not leave much hope that the new institution in the Federation will bring about changes.
"Past practice has shown that we, unfortunately, have no solutions when it comes to processing corruption cases. It really cannot be expected from a newly formed institution, i.e., a newly formed department, to solve all the problems that accumulate from year to year", said Damjan Ožegović, associate for legal affairs of Transparency International BiH.
Whether optimistic or not, there is still a lot of work ahead for the Federation Government. Starting from finding adequate accommodation, to implementing long-adopted laws. If it comes to life, there is another opportunity for justice. To stop crime, eradicate corruption and restore citizens' trust. Of course- if it is used for the right purposes.