If the virus doesn't get us, these politicians of ours surely will: Populism in the time of Corona

By: A. Čorbo-Zećo

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"Adversity reveals heroes," says an old folk proverb, and translated into today's context, the crisis caused by the coronavirus is the right time to recognize people, intentions, projects, organizations, parties, societies, and states. 

The current crisis, which threatens more each day and has been declared a pandemic globally, is a test for many, especially for those who lead or wish to lead the people and the state. Even serious countries are being tested, and fumbling leads to additional panic and the creation of chaotic situations. 

In our country, political parties and their leaders are coping differently in such situations – from measured and concrete messages, statements, proposals, and actions, to irresponsible moves, incoherent statements, and cheap demagoguery and populism. 

If we start from the top, instead of responsibility, we most often witness hypocrisy. Thus, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, SDA's Denis Zvizdić, calls on prime ministers and ministers to do something. We remind Mr. Zvizdić that his party is the ruling party at the state, Federation of BiH, and most cantonal and municipal levels, so this call, addressed roughly to himself, represents nothing but cheap populism.

Their coalition partner – DF – which has been in political self-isolation since Friday the 13th – is showing its true colors. Without concrete proposals. After an initially very calming tone, the Minister of Health, Rusmir Mesihović (DF), when appearing on a TV station, would say some, went too far with words of praise about how everything is in order. 

Naša stranka and SDP called for the suspension of classes and university operations in a timely manner. Narod i pravda continues to ride the populist horse, so they populistly demand the convening of the KS Assembly and FBiH Parliament sessions, and while everyone is canceling rallies and there should be no public gatherings, Dino Konaković is calling for a gathering. 

While publishing the request for urgent parliamentary sessions, he cancels his party's convention, which, according to him, was supposed to be held these days. Apart from Fahrudin Radončić, who as the Minister of Security is performing tasks within his domain, there are no initiatives from SBB. 

A professional approach was shown by Senad Šepić's Independent Bloc, which was the first to request that governments focus on adopting a set of economic measures to help our economy. Besides the health problem, the coronavirus is causing and will cause severe consequences for the economy, and a responsible approach should be focused on these issues, not on cheap political points.

Sebija Izetbegović also reacted, resigning from her position as a deputy in the FBiH Parliament, justifying it by the need to focus more on KCUS as the General Director. And that would be okay, if it weren't known that Deputy Izetbegović, in a year and a half of her mandate, never spoke nor submitted a parliamentary question or any initiative, so her resignation means nothing – because she did nothing. 

Her balance in the FBiH Parliament is – 0! Zero is what, unfortunately, can be used to describe most of our parties and their leaders. 

The gods have long fallen on their heads in RS, where SNSD women are competing to praise Milorad Dodik to the heavens, while in Herzegovina, HDZ BiH of Dragan Čović is more concerned with what will happen to betting shops (strength is in money) than with people's health because their Minister of Civil Affairs is sleeping, and by law, she shouldn't be. 

Because she is directly responsible by law for the health of BiH citizens and she is the one who should act at the highest level. If she doesn't believe me, let her open the Law and read Article 15. 

And our esteemed "experienced driver," Bakir Izetbegović, as a private media outlet close to SDA affectionately calls him, is well on his way to plunging us all into some abyss. 

If the Corona doesn't get us, these politicians of ours surely will.