Izetbegović: Alliance for Changes remains in state government

Bakir Izetbegović, leader of the SDA, said after a meeting with Fahrudin Radončić, president of the Alliance for a Better Future, that they agreed on coalition cooperation in this mandate, reports a reporter of the Patria news agency.

- The coalition will start primarily where we have a problem, and that is to fill the Federal Government, this will expand to the cantons, and possibly to the state level, but that is some third phase. At the beginning of next week, we plan a meeting of delegations, and in the few weeks until then, we will work on the text of an agreement that will focus on priorities, programs, of course, primarily on accelerating reforms, stabilizing the situation in the country, accelerating economic recovery, etc. - Izetbegović pointed out.

The Party of Democratic Action also has an agreement with SBiH and A-SDA, but Radončić also stated in his statement that he expects all ministerial positions in the FBiH Government that the DF held, because the SBB has such capacity. Izetbegović could not say what SBiH and A-SDA will receive.

- As far as the SDA is concerned, we will try to uphold the agreement that is not signed, but nevertheless, it is binding for us. We are going to the Federal Parliament with 34 deputies instead of 29, as many as we have in total with SBiH and A-SDA. That is the bloc that will, within those numbers, allow each party to participate in the future government. In my opinion, first of all, we should focus on what is necessary for this country at this moment, such as the European path, implementation of the reform agenda, achieving good solutions through structural dialogue, accelerating economic recovery, accelerating the creation of new jobs.

At this moment, we have almost 8,000 more jobs compared to October 2014, and that is a good trend, but it is slow, things need to go faster. And I think we will have a good response from A-SDA and SBiH as well - added Izetbegović.

To a question from a Patria journalist whether this means that the SDA might also give up some ministerial positions in the FBiH Government, Izetbegović said:

- Well, you are already speculating on behalf of the SDA, leave that to the party. In politics, some things cannot be determined in advance. We will see. Leave us to negotiate a bit. I said that the quota represented by the SDA will now include A-SDA and SBiH, so we will see - says Izetbegović.

When it comes to the reconstruction of the Council of Ministers, Izetbegović said that it is certain that the Alliance for Changes remains a partner of the SDA and HDZ.

- I think that we have, in my opinion, too strong resistance from this bloc of the Alliance for Changes, and I think they are afraid for their positions, but let me relax them. There was never an agreement with HDZ or SBB, nor any indication that changes should occur regarding the Alliance for Changes. That is fixed for us for this mandate, as is HDZ and also SBB. We will have a meeting at the end of this week or the beginning of next week, so HDZ, the Alliance for Changes, SDA, where we will confirm such things - added the leader of the SDA.