Helez: We extended Nikšić's mandate once without elections, it won't happen a second time

(Patria) - SDP BiH Vice-President Zukan Helez is against extending the mandate of SDP President Nermin Nikšić by doing so without holding internal party elections, as was done at the 2023 Congress.

When asked what is happening in the SDP, Helez told Mreža that there were personnel mistakes.

"What is not good, we made a decision at the Congress to extend President Nermin Nikšić's mandate for two years. And that's not the problem. The problem is that we decided to extend the mandates of all municipal presidents, cantonal presidents, the entire leadership of the SDP, and that is frozen," said Helez.

He said that there are announcements from some people to postpone it for another two years. Although he did not name them, Patria published the speech of Vojin Mijatović from Brčko on February 28, 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 was informed about the events in the Municipal Board of SDP Novi Grad, as well as Novi Sarajevo.

"That is effectively eight years, and you are freezing a party. We made a decision and I will insist that we go to elections. Whether Nikšić will be re-elected, but it should be tested in elections. Probably a good portion of those people will not remain, some will remain, but the will of the SDP members must be tested. Some organizations that performed best in the elections, two Sarajevo organizations, are being dissolved. I want an explanation as to why this is being done. You are making changes where the results are best, but you need to explain why. We cannot change things based on someone's whim or because someone doesn't get along with someone else. Why is the leadership in Novi Grad and Novi Sarajevo being changed when they achieved the best results in BiH?", said Helez.

In the end, he emphasized that a high level of democracy has been established in the SDP, where all members vote, and he does not want to go back.

"Now, postponing elections indefinitely will not be possible. We need new ideas, new minds," said Helez.

Otherwise, according to the SDP Statute, Nermin Nikšić could not run for president again, 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 over the position 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.