Hodžić: We expect to have at least one Bosniak representative in the Parliament

(Patria) - Candidate for the Bosniak national minority in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Armin Hodžić, stated yesterday that the Bosniak minority, the second largest in Croatia, expects that out of 151 parliamentary representatives, one will be a Bosniak.

- The Bosniak national minority is the second largest in Croatia; we are a bridge connecting two countries. We want our voice to be heard throughout Croatia and BiH.


Therefore, we expect that out of 151 parliamentary representatives, at least one will be a Bosniak - said Hodžić at the presentation of the election program for the upcoming parliamentary elections, where he will be the head of the election list for the Bosniak national minority in the 12th electoral district, Hina reports.

Hodžić, who is also the president of the Council of the Bosniak National Minority of the City of Zagreb, is expected to represent the interests of the Albanian, Slovenian, Macedonian, and Montenegrin national minorities in Croatia in the new convocation of the Croatian Parliament for the next four years, in addition to the Bosniak minority.

- The Bosniak community in Croatia plays a significant role, not only because of our numbers but also because of connecting our two homelands, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and our common aspiration to all be part of the great EU family.

The opening of accession negotiations for BiH's entry into the EU imposes an obligation on us Bosniaks in Croatia in the upcoming elections to turn out in as large numbers as possible and fight to have our authentic representative in Parliament.

This way, our voice will be best and most widely heard, not only in Croatia but also in our country of origin, as well as the voices of other minorities whose interests I will represent - Hodžić conveyed.

He emphasizes that it is important in the future to enable the right to vote for all members of the minority, regardless of whether they identify as Bosniaks or Muslims, because they are members of the same nation.

- We must not be deprived of our minority rights and the opportunity to fight for a better standard of living for our people through state and local self-government bodies, as some areas still lack electricity, water, or roads.

We want better funding for our cultural needs, promotion of education for members of our minority, because more than 25,000 members of our national minority fought for a free Croatia in the war.

For the 1,187 Bosniaks who gave their lives in the Homeland War, we want to ensure lasting remembrance and memory for generations to come - Hodžić adds.

Representatives of the Bosniak national minority in Croatia were the first to submit their candidate list to the State Election Commission for the upcoming parliamentary elections on April 17, and during the campaign, they will visit all places across Croatia where members of the Bosniak minority live.