Following the resignation of Christian Schmidt on 11 May, the Governing Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) is expected to meet on 3–4 June in Sarajevo to appoint a new High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Schmidt, the German diplomat, has held the post since August 2021, often using “Bonn powers” and facing strong tensions with the leadership of Republika Srpska, particularly Milorad Dodik.
Schmidt’s resignation
Schmidt stated that the reason for the resignation was “personal reasons”, but the media reported that Washington had requested his departure in order to appoint a successor more aligned with American policies.
Disputes over energy projects, such as the US-backed gas pipeline, where Schmidt had expressed reservations, were cited as an additional factor.
The role of OHR
The Office of the High Representative was created by the Dayton Agreement to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of peace. The High Representative has final authority over the interpretation of the agreement and, since the PIC decision in Bonn (1997), has powers to impose laws and dismiss officials who obstruct the peace.
The selection process
The PIC Governing Board, consisting of the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, Russia and the EU, is responsible for selecting the successor. Schmidt continues his duties until the new appointment to avoid a power vacuum. In practice, the appointment is usually supported by a UN Security Council resolution. Russia, although a member of the PIC, has boycotted the process since Schmidt’s appointment in 2021, calling it illegal as it was not approved by the UN and objecting to the OHR’s broad powers.
Potential candidates
Media in BiH report that Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi, former ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, is seen as the main candidate. The Americans support him, the Italians want to present him as a “pan-European” candidate, while the British are skeptical and the Germans and French would monitor him closely. Negotiations remain complicated.
In addition to him, the former Slovenian president Borut Pahor and the former head of the EU Delegation in Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, were also mentioned, due to their experience in regional diplomacy. On the other hand, sources from Republika Srpska, including Milorad Dodik, favor other candidates such as Johann Sattler, currently Head of the EU Delegation in Montenegro.
