While awaiting final recall decision, Mandić 'goes wild': New traffic blockades in city center due to sidewalk renovation

By: Amra Vrabac

Traffic in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina is heavily congested a few days before the 29th edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival. Thousands of tourists have arrived in Sarajevo, and due to the reconstruction of the tram line, buses are running instead of trams from Čengić Vila to Baščaršija. The reconstruction of intersections is also in its final phase, making traffic difficult with police assistance.

However, precisely these days, the mayor of the Centar municipality, Srđan Mandić, after his recall was voted on, decided to start work on some projects. He boasted that the reconstruction of the pedestrian path from the square 'kod Bičakčića' to Karla Paržika street in Marijin Dvor has begun.

Due to this work, the right side of the main road, which is used by buses and taxis, is occupied, thus creating even greater congestion. In comments on social media, citizens asked Mandić why this reconstruction couldn't wait a few days until after the SFF.

Additional nervousness on Sarajevo's roads due to blockades can only cause more frequent traffic accidents. But Mandić is not interested in that. Tourists really like to photograph excavators and protective fences as tourist attractions.

However, looking at the start of these and other works, one gets the impression that Mandić is trying to 'wash himself clean' in the eyes of the public because his recall was voted on precisely due to inaction, as claimed by councilors who supported the referendum initiative. At the session of the Centar Municipal Council, 18 councilors voted for the recall, and since then, pressure on councilors to abandon this idea has not ceased.

In the last two days, and ahead of the Centar Municipal Council session on Thursday, where Mandić's request for reconsideration of the recall decision is to be discussed, information is being disseminated from certain circles that some councilors have withdrawn or will not appear at the session.

The Centar Municipal Board of People and Justice (NiP), which has nine councilors in the Municipal Council, emphasized that there is no withdrawal or giving up. Independent councilors who supported the recall initiative hold the same stance. Two SBB councilors and one from SDA also voted for Mandić's recall.

Although this initiative was surprising to some leaders of the Trojka coalition, this is not the first time dissatisfaction with Mandić's (in)action has been expressed. The earlier realization of Mandić's recall was prevented by the president of NiP, Elmedin Konaković. This time, Konaković was not informed of the intention of the NiP councilors, but he was aware of the constant and growing dissatisfaction. Although Mandić was quick to inform the public about the support of the NiP president, he forgets that Konaković does not vote in the council, but rather the nine NiP councilors do.

No NiP councilor has forgotten Mandić's insults and accusations that they have the 'DNA of SDA' even though they are now in NiP, and he even published election posters of current NiP councilors from the time they were in SDA, even though the same NiP is responsible for Mandić's victory in 2020.

Mandić also engaged in a public debate with some councilors about the 'questionable hirings' of their family members in the Centar Municipality, and they did not remain indebted to him either due to 'hiring advisors and announcing competitions for civil servants'.

If Mandić's recall is definitively confirmed at tomorrow's session, a referendum should be held on September 17. If Mandić is recalled, new early elections could be held in November or by the end of the year.

Although there is just over a year left until the regular local elections, the problems between the Municipal Council and Mandić have clearly reached their peak. They could not be 'covered up' even by the Sarajevo Carpet worth KM 1,500,000, which was paid for more than agreed upon in the project.