DF TK Expels Žarko Vujović from Membership Due to TK Assembly Decision on Salary Increase

(Patria) - The Cantonal Board of the Democratic Front of Tuzla Canton today issued a statement informing the public that Žarko Vujović, President of the TK Assembly
and delegate to the House of Peoples of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH, has been expelled from the membership of the Democratic Front by decision of the President of the Cantonal Board of the Democratic Front of Tuzla Canton dated 31.01.2025, and that the Decision on Expulsion has been forwarded to the competent body of the Party for deletion from the records.

"In this regard, the political entity Democratic Front bears no political responsibility for the future actions and conduct of Mr. Vujović. As is known to the public, Mr. Vujović, in cooperation with other individuals from the ruling majority holding the position of deputies in the TK Assembly (SDA), and in cooperation with the Prime Minister of the TK Government, Mr. Halilagić (SDA), without any prior information or consultations, and without seeking
the official position of the competent bodies of the Democratic Front (Cantonal Board and its president) on such a sensitive issue, completely on his own initiative and volition, organized and implemented the adoption of the Law by which the salaries and allowances of appointed and elected political officials were enormously increased, and the possibility was left for the deputies of the TK Assembly to further increase these allowances themselves, bypassing the insight of the democratic public and in a non-transparent manner, through parliamentary committees.

All of this in the conditions of a severe economic crisis, continuous price increases, daily protests by pensioners (due to low pensions), protests by students (due to increased transportation costs), and boycotts of classes by pupils, which makes the adoption of such a socially insensitive law even more unacceptable from the perspective of potentially fueling the completely justified revolt of the citizens of TK, and the possible escalation of justified civil protests to the level of a broader disruption of the overall security situation in TK.

Such initiative and, in our opinion, irresponsible action in the conditions of a severe political and economic situation in our country has also led to a serious violation of the Statute of the Democratic Front, especially the statutory principles of social justice and social solidarity on which the policy of the Democratic Front is based. Also, such unacceptable and initiative-driven association with individuals from other political parties for the purpose of adopting a Law completely contrary to the Statute and policy of the Party, as well as actions that constitute manipulation towards others – certain deputies and ministers of DF – have seriously violated the provisions of the Statute that prescribe the competencies of the bodies of the Cantonal Board, and especially the provisions that prescribe the obligations of deputies in cantonal assemblies, etc.

After learning about the commission of the aforementioned disputed actions from the media, the president of the DF TK Cantonal Board sent a public request to Mr. Vujović to, within a period not exceeding 7 (seven) days and in cooperation with the Prime Minister of the TK Government, Mr. Halilagić – with whom he conceived and implemented the adoption of the aforementioned disputed Law, find a lawful solution to suspend the provisions that prescribe salary increases for elected and appointed political officials.

On the contrary, the President of the TK Assembly, Mr. Vujović, continued to behave in a way that implies further violation of the Statute and the Party's policy, and held a press conference from which it unequivocally follows that he has no intention of acting in accordance with the request/instruction of the President of the DF TK Cantonal Board, and that he continues to act on his own initiative – not only with the bodies of the DF TK Cantonal Board, but also with the citizens, while adopting an offensive tone, manipulating figures, openly testing the intelligence of citizens, and provoking justified public anger.

For the aforementioned reasons, in order to bring the actions of the Cantonal Board of the Democratic Front TK within the limits of the Statute, it was decided that Mr. Vujović, President of the TK Assembly and
delegate to the House of Peoples of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH, be expelled from membership in the Democratic Front. The Democratic Front continues on its path of political and democratic struggle for the state, the rule of law, and for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Those who accept the policy and goals of the Democratic Front are welcome to continue or join us on our well-known path; those who wish to follow the path Mr. Vujović has taken are free to join him," stated the press release from the President of the DF TK Cantonal Board, Zlatan Begić.