Headaches for Nikšić and the SDP Presidency: Members Resign, What Is the Conflict Behind It

Written by: Amra Vrabac

A collective resignation of 28 members of the SDP BiH Municipal Board Novi Grad Sarajevo was submitted today to the president of SDP BiH, Nermin Nikšić.

The signatories submit the collective resignation from all functions they perform within the Municipal Board of SDP BiH Novi Grad, including Mahir Delić, president of the Municipal Board, as well as the head of the election campaign team in the previous elections, Samir Čajić, and other members.

This decision came after the SDP Presidency first canceled the electoral-reporting conference of the Municipal Board SDP Novi Grad on September 8, and at the session of the SDP Sarajevo Cantonal Board held on September 28, a conclusion was adopted to dissolve the Municipal Board SDP Novi Grad, on which the SDP Presidency will make a decision at its next session.

"Since the Decision of the Municipal Board SDP Novi Grad nor the will of the majority of members, nor the Statute of SDP BiH were respected, but rather the proposals of the Cantonal Board SDP BiH, created by certain members (a minority of 7 members) from the Municipal Board SDP BiH Novi Grad, without even attempting to talk to the other members (a majority of 27 members), we consider ourselves humiliated and belittled, despite the excellent result (8,700 votes) achieved in the General Elections, and as responsible people, we have decided to submit our resignation," states the letter addressed to President Nermin Nikšić, Secretary General Elvir Karajbić, members of the SDP BiH Presidency, and the president of the Cantonal Board SDP BiH, Adnan Šteta.

What is curious is that during the vote on the conclusions at the session of the SDP Sarajevo Cantonal Board, there were initially not enough hands raised, and after Šteta's intervention with the words 'come on, raise your hands,' the necessary narrow majority was achieved.

Some members of the Municipal Board SDP Novi Grad Sarajevo believe that such a decision was not legal and that those without voting rights, who were guests at the session of the SDP Sarajevo Cantonal Board, also voted for it.

The Municipal Board Novo Sarajevo will very soon take a stance on all these events, in line with previously adopted conclusions.

One of the members of the Municipal Board SDP Novi Grad Sarajevo, Samir Čajić, publicly stated that the former cadre of this party, Damir Hadžić, wants to take over the Novi Grad SDP through his wife Alma Hadžić, who is in the Municipal Board Novi Grad Sarajevo.
Turbulence in the Sarajevo SDP is increasing, and the dissolution and disarray in the municipal boards cannot bring a good result for the SDP in the upcoming local elections.

The current storm could only be calmed by a decision of the party Presidency, and as Patria learns, there are members of the Presidency and vice-presidents of the SDP who believe that the request of the Cantonal Board SDP for the dissolution of the Municipal Board Novi Grad and the Municipal Board Novo Sarajevo should be rejected, and that an analysis should first be conducted and the situation within the municipal organizations consolidated. Any erosion of the party, especially in the Sarajevo Canton, will be disastrous for the SDP.