Izetbegović in Travnik: If you want peace and stability, do not humiliate the most numerous people

(Patria) - The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) held its first rally at the Travnik fortress, officially opening its campaign for the upcoming local elections scheduled for October 6. At the rally, the official election slogan of the SDA, "The People's Choice - now it's clear why," was also presented.

The rally was addressed by SDA President Bakir Izetbegović, who emphasized that this is the 17th election campaign in the party's 34 years of existence.

"SDA members - enter the campaign aware of the strength of the party you represent! You are champions, so act like it! You represent the first-founded party in BiH, the party most deserving of winning freedom and democracy, the most deserving for the defense of the homeland, the party that was the engine of all significant post-war reforms! You represent the strongest, victorious party, and act victoriously! The SDA is the absolute winner in 15 out of 16 previous election cycles! Do not let opponents shake you - the people are with you, we are the permanent CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE since we led them towards freedom and equality," Izetbegović said.

He stressed that the SDA consistently receives support from 300,000 voters, has the largest number of parliamentarians at the state level, the largest number of parliamentarians at the federal level, the largest number of representatives in cantonal assemblies, the largest number of councilors in municipal councils, and the largest number of mayors and city mayors in the Federation.

"We never imagined that history begins with us. Our people wanted well-intentioned policies and well-intentioned leaders. Policies and leaders that offer peace and equality to citizens and peoples. We are that CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE!

We were founded as a national party of Bosniaks because that people was suppressed and disenfranchised, had no right to a name, to the name of the language they speak, did not have equal opportunities. But we were never a nationalist party, as our opponents maliciously called us. We are all born in some country, some people, some family, we all belong to something. And we should love and improve all that. But by no means hate others and those who are different, nor imagine that we are better than others by birth alone! We never glorified our own people, although Bosniaks have much to boast and be proud of - few peoples would endure what Bosniaks endured. That is a chivalrous and brave people who went through a Golgotha without even remotely returning crime for crimes.

And in peace, it is a people that strives for reconciliation and progress, that works and produces - 70% of taxes that fill budgets at all levels of the state are collected in territories predominantly inhabited by Bosniaks.

Many have wronged the Bosniaks and their fundamental party. We expected that from those who are bothered by Bosniaks. In war, they tried to kill them and drive them away, to steal their land and resources. And in peace, they try to marginalize them, disenfranchise them, dominate them. But we did not expect the disenfranchisement of Bosniaks from those who are friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who want peace and stability in it and in the Balkans. Instead of resolutely opposing policies and politicians who deny genocide, who try to complete war goals through political means, those who celebrate war criminals and present them as heroes in school textbooks - part of the representatives of the International Community let them do it, and even strengthened some. And they directed the blade at the SDA and Bosniaks.

The Constitution of BiH was suspended for one day to bypass the Bosniak representative in the Federation, and the SDA - the winner of the 2022 elections, was thrown out of power. That was not a slap to Bosniaks, it was a stab in the back. They claim they did it for our good, to stabilize relations. My message to friends of BiH is that they chose an unjust and extremely wrong path for stabilizing BiH and the region. If you want peace and stability, do not humiliate the most numerous people in BiH and the party that is the CHOICE of that people! Do not equate General Mehmed Alagić and the defenders with those who planned and carried out two UZPs and tried to divide BiH. Do not equate the SDA with parties that still base their policies on war goals and persistently destabilize the situation in the country. Do not equate evil and good, light and darkness. Do not help diminish the influence of those who love this country and offer peace and stability, do not put a straitjacket made in Dayton on us," Izetbegović said.

He said that the policies of the Troika lead to a chronic weakening of the influence of patriotic, pro-Bosnian forces.

"No one serious anymore denies the treacherous trades made by the Troika so that the presidents of NIP, SDP, and Our Party could sit in ministerial and prime ministerial chairs. They agreed to the humiliation of their own country, their own people, to the suspension of the Constitution, to changes in the election law that enabled the HDZ to dominate the Federation, and the HDZ-SNSD alliance to dominate the state. They handed over important positions that belong to Bosniaks and pro-Bosnians so that the three of them could profit. They handed over the security sector, the road construction sector, weakened the Constitutional Court, dismissed the hero of the defense of Mostar to appoint an HDZ cadre. Not only are they prone to betrayals. They are also incompetent. We have never had worse government in the post-Dayton period. They are indebting us on a daily basis, the Federation is catching up with the over-indebted RS, the growth of the gross domestic product is three times lower than the growth during Novalić's time, and that is why there will be no extraordinary increase in pensions. Industrial production records a decline of 9%, similar to exports. Elektroprivreda increased electricity prices but only in the area where Bosniaks are the majority. And despite that, it continues to create a debt of almost one million KM/day," Izetbegović said.

He expressed concern that the Troika is preparing to continue making concessions to the HDZ, and currently the management of FTV and FUP are at stake.

"And after the elections, the election law dictated by the HDZ and the Growth Plan dictated by the SNSD follow - We must STOP them! They must receive a clear message BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

From the leftists, we expected a breakthrough in the Serbian and Croatian corps, strengthening the multi-ethnic component in the pro-Bosnian bloc. It's incredible what we have witnessed - they have turned into servants of the HDZ! They are channeling all water to the HDZ's mill with a clear message - if a Croat wants political advancement, then there is no place for them in leftist options and the pro-Bosnian bloc. They must submit to the HDZ! That's how it was with the filling of all Croatian positions in this mandate - up to the vitally important one in the Constitutional Court of BiH. And now they are preparing that for us on the remaining important positions in the Federation! We also expected a breakthrough of the Troika in Banja Luka, in the Serbian corps. The opposite happened, a former SNSD member was brought from Banja Luka, penetrated Sarajevo. He is shaping our destiny and governing in the Federation!

As I said - these are local elections, but it is necessary to weaken and discourage the Troika structure at the local level as well. Voting for their candidates amnesties and encourages them to continue with surrenders and sellouts. They must be sent a message that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! They need to be discouraged and stopped in their intentions, which they no longer hide!

They need to understand that they are not the CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE! They are the choice of the HDZ, SNSD, and foreigners! They were born through violence against the Constitution of BiH. They are imposed! They need to understand that they have humiliated and angered the people with their subservience and trading of what belongs to that people, not to them," Izetbegović stated.

On the SDA lists, there are 2,250 candidates for councilors, 950 are youth, 930 are women, over 1,000 are highly educated cadres, of which over 10% are masters and doctors of science!

The situation is similar with the 53 candidates for mayors and city mayors - on average they are under 50 years old, almost all have higher education, of which 40% are masters and doctors of science!