While Nikšić announces the end of his political career, Mijatović and Šteta are strategizing for him to remain head of the SDP

(Patria) - The President of SDP BiH Nermin Nikšić stated in an interview for Nova BH that he is ending "some of his political career" and that after this term, he is not eligible to run for the president of SDP BiH.

Otherwise, Nikšić's term was extended by a decision of the SDP Congress in June 2023, when it was actually decided that the elections in SDP would be held after the local elections. At that time, the mandate was extended not only to Nikšić but also to the presidents at all other levels within the SDP. Therefore, Nikšić's mandate lasts until the end of this year, and by May 2025 at the latest.

Given that this is an election year and that the time for elections in SDP will soon come, some cadres are already preparing the ground for Nikšić's mandate to be extended again without holding intra-party elections.

The Vice-President of SDP, Zukan Helez, disagrees with this, stating on March 12 for Mreža FTV that he is against extending President Nikšić's mandate in the way it was done at the 2023 Congress.

He said that there are announcements from some people to postpone it for another two years. Although he did not name anyone, we recall the speech of the Vice-President of SDP and one of Nikšić's closest associates, Vojin Mijatović, from February 28 in Brčko, where he presented the idea that Nikšić should lead the party as long as his health allows. A few days later, the head of the SDP Sarajevo Cantonal Organization, Adnan Šteta, gave full support to President Nikšić after the public became aware of the events in the Municipal Board of SDP Novi Grad, as well as Novi Sarajevo. Šteta reiterated his stance last week that Nikšić is leading the party excellently and that he is not interested in taking over the party.

Helez stated that he will insist on going to elections and voting for everyone, not on replacing people who have the best election results, as is the case in Novi Grad and Novi Sarajevo.

Otherwise, according to the current Statute of SDP, Nermin Nikšić would not be able to run for president again because he has already served two terms, and Zukan Helez and Denis Bećirović are considered the most serious successors at the head of the party. However, what the membership resents Bećirović for is that he has not participated in the work of SDP bodies since taking on the role of member of the Presidency of BiH, nor has he commented on internal turbulences, even though all organizations worked on his campaign and ensured his victory.