Baltić took over the SDP Novi Grad Municipal Board at the request of Damir Hadžić, the minister announces a new director of the Health Centre, the composition of the Management Board is disputed

In early October 2023, the collective resignation of 28 members of the SDP BiH Municipal Board Novi Grad Sarajevo was submitted to the hands of SDP BiH President Nermin Nikšić.

The signatories submitted the collective resignation from all functions they perform within the SDP BiH Municipal Board Novi Grad, including Mahir Delić, the president of the Municipal Board, as well as the head of the election campaign in the previous elections, Samir Čajić, and other members.

The SDP Presidency never commented on this decision. At least not officially. Neither President Nermin Nikšić ever spoke about this, nor did he invite Delić and other members for a talk.

However, on 11 November 2023, the truncated Municipal Board of SDP Novi Grad held a session at which Abel Baltić was elected acting president. Dino Selimović was elected secretary.

The members who submitted resignations are not informed about the sessions of the Municipal Board nor are they aware of the decisions being made. The SDP Novi Grad Municipal Board led by Mahir Delić secured nearly 9,000 votes in the General Elections.

What was a problem then and what prompted about 30 SDP members to resign continued months later. Damir Hadžić wants to rule the Novi Grad SDP in order to draw part of the power from it to achieve his goals. Although he formally holds no position in the SDP, his wife is on the SDP Municipal Board, and in this way they pull the strings. It is no secret that Baltić is their choice for the leader of this Municipal Board, which was realised. Baltić has close relations with Nikšić as well as with other SDP officials.

The head of the Cantonal Board, Adnan Šteta, does not speak publicly about the events within the SDP Cantonal Board. All important decisions are made in a narrow circle of people, and the membership believes that many decisions were made without the necessary majority. Democracy within the SDP can no longer be discussed.

There is just over a year left until the change of leadership in the SDP. When Nikšić's term as president was magically extended despite the Statute which does not provide for more than two terms, the loudest advocates for him to remain the head of the SDP were Šteta and Vojin Mijatović.

That things have gone downhill in the SDP is also evidenced by raised voices at the sessions of the party's Presidency, while Vice President Denis Bećirović, since his election as a member of the BiH Presidency, has not actively participated in the work of the party, although many see him as the new president.

But let's return to Novi Grad. Revenge against Mahir Delić for the resignation, but also for the certain rebellion he caused within the Novi Grad Municipal Board, followed by the rejection of the report of the Cantonal Centre for Social Work, which he heads. He was clearly told that it was a political decision, and the troika, along with several other representatives, voted against the report.

The Assembly of the Sarajevo Canton on 16 February rejected the report of the Public Institution Health Centre of the Sarajevo Canton, headed by Abel Baltić. A number of problems and irregularities regarding the operations of the Health Centre, suspicious employments, and the conclusion of contracts that benefit individuals to the detriment of the Health Centre were presented at the Assembly of the Sarajevo Canton.

The Minister of Health of the Sarajevo Canton, Enis Hasanović (SDP), initiated the dismissal of the Management Board of the Health Centre, and a new one was appointed. Baltić submitted his resignation, but it is suspected that the Management Board will reject his resignation and that he will remain at the head of the Health Centre, despite being burdened by reports and investigations.

However, Minister Hasanović has different expectations. When asked who could replace Baltić, Hasanović told Faktor that he does not have such information, and that no one can have that name in mind at this moment.

„I talked to Baltić, neither would he take my place, nor would I go to the Health Centre. I don't think anyone could convince me to take that position, even though the one I am in is very difficult. And even if we found quality people, we would have to convince them to take on that responsibility, because there are many problems in health centres. I would like us to have 80 good people, or three quality candidates so we could choose among them, but unfortunately we don't. We don't really have much of a choice, but we have to find that person,“ said Hasanović.

Member of the Management Board holds two public functions

An additional problem is the composition of the Management Board, which includes Dino Selimović as president (SDP), and members Alma Juković, Namir Čomaga, Vedad Kulenović and Enis Čavčić.

Enis Čavčić is a councillor of the People and Justice party in the Vogošća Municipal Council, and according to the Law on Prevention and Suppression of Corruption in the Sarajevo Canton, he cannot hold two public functions, so the legality of this composition of the Management Board is questionable.