HDZ BiH Youth Officials from Zenica-Doboj Canton Resign from Positions and Party Membership

(Patria) - A total of 14 members of the Cantonal Board (KO) of HDZ BiH, including the presidents of the Municipal Boards of Youth in Zavidovići, Vareš, and Maglaj, have submitted irrevocable resignations.

They informed the public about their decision in a joint statement.

"We hereby wish to inform you that, as prominent members of HDZ BiH, we are submitting irrevocable resignations from party positions and membership within HDZ BiH. The following are resigning from their positions and membership:

- Robert Bošnjak, member of the Central Committee of HDZ BiH, vice-president of HDZ BiH Youth, member of the Cantonal Board of HDZ BiH Zenica-Doboj Canton, member of the Municipal Board of HDZ BiH Žepče, member of the Presidency of the Cantonal Board of HDZ BiH Youth Zenica-Doboj Canton (Žepče);

- Ante Kelavić, international secretary of HDZ BiH Youth, president of HDZ BiH Maglaj Municipal Board Youth, member of the Presidency of the Cantonal Board of HDZ BiH Youth Zenica-Doboj Canton (Maglaj);

- Ivan Lovrić, member of the Presidency of HDZ BiH Youth and member of the Presidency of the Cantonal Board of HDZ BiH Youth Zenica-Doboj Canton (Žepče);

- Antonio Šimunović, president of the Cantonal Board of HDZ BiH Youth and member of the Cantonal Board of HDZ BiH Zenica-Doboj Canton (Žepče)", they stated in the announcement.

They explain that the reasons for such a decision are numerous and have been accumulating for years.

"The real truth is that the situation in the party in our area is unprecedentedly bad. What, among other things, most prompted us to take such a radical step are the recent internal elections of HDZ BiH, which we consider absolutely irregular, moreover, they were staged and do not reflect the actual support of members on the ground. One example is the Municipal Board of HDZ BiH Maglaj, where elections were not held at all", they point out.

They particularly emphasize the "lack of understanding, disrespect, and ultimately exclusivity from the eternal mayor of the Municipality of Žepče and member of the Presidency of HDZ BiH, Mato Zovko, as well as the former president of the Municipal Board of HDZ BiH Žepče, Josip Martić, which have been ongoing for years".

They state that the "manipulative behavior of the aforementioned duo, combined with rigging and blackmail," has systematically prevented cooperation between the Municipal Board of HDZ BiH Žepče Youth and the Cantonal Board of HDZ BiH Zenica-Doboj Canton Youth for several years, and that they are thus trying, as they stated, to be completely politically eliminated.

"It is important to emphasize that we, the undersigned, although all highly educated, politically accomplished, and recognized at the state level and beyond, do not have the opportunity to participate in local politics, i.e., we are prevented by the decisions of individuals.

We emphasize that we did not make this not-so-easy decision overnight; it is the result of years of inaction by the party leadership to our requests and pointing out existing problems with the aim of finding a common solution", they conveyed.

They also add that they thank the Presidency of HDZ BiH Youth, led by president Mato Lončar, for what they emphasized as "exceptionally correct and omnipresent cooperation".

"Unfortunately, we are forced to realize our knowledge, visions, and political ideas in some other way. We cannot be part of a policy in the municipality and canton where we are effectively not allowed to engage in politics, simply because we do not blindly follow the policy of divisions and factions, which is ultimately detrimental to HDZ BiH and the unity of Croats in this area.

Following this, we have made this decision and hope that Croats within the municipality of Žepče and Zenica-Doboj Canton will understand and support us in this, because the interests of individuals can never be placed above the interests of the Croatian people in the territory that our parents defended with great sacrifice", stated the HDZ BiH Youth officials from Zenica-Doboj Canton in their joint statement.