Three members expelled from SDP for discussing Damir Hadžić's influence and demanding accountability from Vojin Mijatović

The Municipal Board of SDP BiH Novi Grad, headed by Abel Baltić, expelled Samir Čajić, Nermin Alihodžić, and Jasmin Idrizović from its membership due to public statements about the events within this board.

The session of the Municipal Board of SDP BiH Novi Grad was held on March 6, at which the Presidency of the Municipal Board of SDP BiH Novi Grad was instructed to initiate the expulsion procedure. The Presidency session was held on April 17, at which the decision to expel these three SDP BiH members was made, and which the Municipal Board implemented on April 22.

The justification for the decision, which Patria had access to, states that these members had caused damage to the SDP through their actions and media appearances in the past period.

The decision refers to the media appearance of these three members on 09/29/2023, by which they "misled the members of the SDP".

Furthermore, Alihodžić is also criticized for a statement made on March 3, 2024, as a representative of 27 members of the Municipal Board Novi Grad who resigned, which was never considered.

Also, Nermin Alihodžić's sin is that, on behalf of this group, he sent a letter to the media demanding disciplinary accountability from Vojin Mijatović, thereby "causing damage to the Municipal Board SDP Novi Grad and the Municipal Board SDP Banja Luka".

"It should not be overlooked that he contributed to the spread of intolerance and potential hatred among SDP BiH members," the decision signed by acting president of the Municipal Board SDP Novi Grad, Abel Baltić, states.

Although the decision itself states that a member can appeal to the Statutory Board of SDP BiH within 30 days, this will not be possible. The Statutory Board of SDP BiH does not exist because several members are missing, whom the SDP president Nermin Nikšić has never appointed.

After Abel Baltić took over the Municipal Board of SDP BiH Novi Grad, the influence of former SDP member Damir Hadžić on this board expanded, and decisions are made according to his wishes. The wife of Damir Hadžić is a member of the Municipal Board SDP Novi Grad Sarajevo.

A group of 27 members publicly stated that Damir Hadžić controls the processes, and this is a classic case of revenge. However, considering all the events in and around this board, a large number of SDP Novi Grad members disagree with the decisions of the new president Abel Baltić, which will also affect the preparations for the local elections. Baltić does not enjoy the trust that the now former president of this board, Mahir Delić, had.

Under his leadership, this board consolidated and brought a large number of votes to the SDP in KS.

Part of the decision on the expulsion of Nermin Alihodžić

After Abel Baltić resigned from the position of director of the Public Institution Health Center KS because his work report for 2023 was not adopted, and which was not voted on by SDP BiH representatives in the KS Assembly, he became the president of the Municipal Board SDP Novi Grad.

Higher party bodies, nor President Nermin Nikšić himself, have ever responded to numerous letters from the group of dissatisfied SDP members.

On the other hand, SDP BiH bodies have not been functioning for a long time either. The last Presidency session was held in February, while the new one is scheduled for May 20.

Main Board sessions have not been held for months, and the last one was in April 2023.
Individuals who are expelled from the party for exercising their right to freedom of thought, which is apparently forbidden in the SDP, will not be responsible for the election results of the municipal boards, but rather the inaction and wrong moves of those who were given the opportunity to lead the processes.

The expulsion of these three SDP BiH members is a message to all those who dare to speak publicly and warn about non-statutory behavior.

There have been other examples of public statements by SDP BiH members about problems within the party, such as Irfan Čengić, Zukan Helez, Damir Mašić, but no one has been expelled from the membership.

However, the question is why Damir Hadžić's influence is so strong in the Municipal Board Novi Grad that he can create a list of undesirable members, while the SDP leadership remains silent about it.

(A. Vrabac)