Čović for, Izetbegović against reconstruction of BiH Council of Ministers

A meeting between Dragan Čović and Bakir Izetbegović, presidents of HDZ BiH and SDA, was held at the BiH Presidency building, where they discussed the reconstruction of the FBiH Government, or rather the formation of a new coalition in FBiH, writes the BiH news agency Patria.

Dragan Čović told reporters after the meeting that he had informed Izetbegović about future meetings with Fahrudin Radončić, president of SBB, and Milorad Dodik, leader of SNSD, and that they discussed all current problems plaguing BiH.

Čović emphasized that he hopes to have the work completed within the next 15 days, but that the key to the problem, or rather the solution, lies with DF, specifically the fact that Milan Dunović is still the Vice President of FBiH and that he should resign, as all other work is in vain.

When asked by Patria journalists what would happen if Fahrudin Radončić agreed to join the coalition with HDZ on Saturday, and how Bakir Izetbegović would react, Čović said:

- We shall see. But I hope, as I said, that we will have a stable majority in Parliament within the next 15 days, and as for the reconstruction of the Council of Ministers, it concerns the part that belongs to DF, and I must say that all the talks I am having, which also concern the other two members of the Presidency, are not a secret. I inform Mr. Izetbegović and Ivanić about everything - Čović added.

He also commented on the behavior of BPS and stated that he is not sure if they are part of the government or if they ever were. Otherwise, Čović left the Presidency building due to a previously planned visit to Pero Gudelj, owner of FIS Vitez, who is recovering at UKCS.

After the meeting, Izetbegović presented his view on the results of this meeting and, unlike Čović, stated that the reconstruction of the Council of Ministers is not necessary. Furthermore, Izetbegović said that the majority of HDZ, BPS, A-SDA, and SBIH still exists, and when asked what is specifically happening with BPS, given that there are announcements from this party that they do not want to be in power, Izetbegović said:

- There are some rumors from the younger Halilović, but such rumors have never come from the president of this party - Izetbegović stated.

He said that SDA and HDZ form the backbone of the government at almost all levels in the country, and that Čović will have a meeting with Dodik and Radončić, whom he believes is not willing to join the government.

When asked by Patria journalists what would happen if Radončić nevertheless decided to join the coalition with HDZ, Izetbegović said that he doubts it, but that it is good for the existing coalition to gain new partners, at least when it comes to the European or reform path of BiH.

When asked why he did not meet with Radončić himself, he replied that he has no plans to do so, and that Radončić obviously is not thinking about it either, considering his statements and behavior.