Izetbegović fears Cerić, Lagumdžija and Radončić want the prime minister position!

The deadline for submitting applications for the October elections has passed, and as reported by the BH news agency Patria (NAP), this year's election campaign will be particularly interesting in the Bosniak political corpus, where a fierce battle will be waged for the two most important state positions.  

The race for a seat in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina might not be the most attractive for party leaders, considering that in the next term of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the position of chairman, according to the schedule, should go to Bosniaks!

According to unofficial information, there have already been secret talks within the triangle SDA-SDP-SBB on how to "distribute" positions before the elections and, based on that, create election lists and conduct the campaign. The leader of SDP, Zlatko Lagumdžija, apparently is not interested in taking a seat in the Presidency of BiH and will not run for the Bosniak member, but he is interested in the prime minister position in the Council of Ministers.

It is rumored in the corridors that Lagumdžija has already made an agreement with the Deputy President of SDA, Bakir Izetbegović. According to that agreement, SDP would field a weak candidate against Izetbegović, or would provide a candidate from among the other two constituent peoples, thus increasing his chances for a new term.

In return, Izetbegović would then entrust Lagumdžija with the mandate position after the elections.

On the other hand, the head of the Alliance for a Better Future, Fahrudin Radončić, is still considering whether to run for the Presidency of BiH and thus face Izetbegović again. Unofficially, he is not overly interested in that race. The position of state prime minister is much more appealing, which, as many believe, he could successfully hold as a businessman with experience.

The change in the party's name to SBB – Fahrudin Radončić also indicates that Radončić is closer to not running for the Presidency. In this way, Radončić has enabled voters to see his name on every ballot, regardless of the level of government they are voting for, and to vote for him, even if he is not a candidate for the Presidency of BiH.

Furthermore, the entry of Dr. Mustafa Cerić into the race for the Presidency of BiH is a serious challenge for the major political parties. Most importantly, it will create problems for Izetbegović, who is most eager for the Presidency, and who believed that the agreement with Lagumdžija and Radončić's different desires would be sufficient. But now things are getting complicated, and the balance of power is changing.

Izetbegović has not yet resolved all the dilemmas within his party, SDA, which still does not have a clearly designated candidate. Amir Zukić, the general secretary of SDA, stated for Patria that SDA still does not have its candidate for the Bosniak member of the Presidency of BiH, but that they have registered for the elections at all levels of government.

Izetbegović will first have to wait for stabilization within the party to get the green light and the party's candidacy, but the alleged agreement with Lagumdžija makes it difficult.

Namely, there is a large number of ambitious members of the SDA leadership, including those close to him, who already see themselves in the prime minister position, such as Asim Sarajlić or Denis Zvizdić. This secret "deal" with Lagumdžija does not suit them, because it would strengthen Izetbegović's position while weakening the party, which is why they are closer to some kind of agreement and coalition with SBB.

Many fear that due to Izetbegović's new mandate, SDA could lose its chance for the prime minister position in advance, which would then go to SDP or SBB. And, in case of defeat by Cerić, SDA could also lose its seat in the Presidency of BiH and thus, for the first time since 2001, truly go into opposition!