Did Konaković give Srđan Mandić a tailwind, and is he announcing another term as head of Centar Municipality?

By Amra Vrabac

When the Centar Municipal Council, led by the People and Justice Club, voted to recall Mayor Srđan Mandić in July, NiP president Elmedin Konaković did not support such an idea. He said he understood his colleagues from NiP and their dissatisfaction, but that it was not the time for such a move.

Such a stance gave a tailwind to Mandić himself, and with Konaković's “tacit permission,” as he understood it, he attacked NiP councilors from Centar, insulting them, publishing their photos, accusing them of carrying the “SDA DNA” within them. Only then did Konaković react, but Mandić continued his own way.

Ultimately, the recall referendum did not happen because Mandić, by abusing the services of the Centar municipality, obstructed the public procurement procedures for voting materials. Even moving the referendum date did not yield the desired result. Although he claimed not to fear the referendum, his actions showed the opposite.

The result of the damaged relationship between Mandić and the councilors who voted for the recall is also the failure to hold Municipal Council sessions. The last two sessions were not held, and Mandić is calling on some councilors to come to their senses. Such a relationship could last until the very end of the term.

What further adds to the confusion in the already strained relations of the “trojka” (trio), which formally no longer exists in the Centar Municipal Council and is no longer a secret, is Srđan Mandić's new self-candidacy for the next elections. Especially after it became clear that there would be no referendum.

The president of NiP admits that his party is suffering due to the position it holds in the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that he is not aware of all processes. But, according to the messages he sent to individuals in his party, it seems he is not leaving anything to chance. Commenting on the failed recall for FTV, he said:

“It caused problems and damage to NiP in the Centar Municipal Board. The colleagues who initiated it were brave, but now the municipal and cantonal organizations must submit a report to the Presidency on the effects of the initiated recall,” Konaković said.

With this statement, he clearly called out those who initiated the recall story. Among them are Sejad Đozo, Jasmin Ademović, and OV Centar councilors. However, Konaković is also requesting a report from the head of NiP Sarajevo, Elvedin Okerić.

Konaković had another message for his party colleagues, that “if they continue to push stubbornly, it will not be good.”

It is no secret that Konaković has good relations with the presidents of Our Party, Edin Forto, and SDP, Nermin Nikšić, but it is also true that Mandić won in 2020 thanks to the support of People and Justice. Although the “trojka” has fallen apart in Centar, and even in Novi Sarajevo, they are not giving up on this concept yet.

The principled agreement is that the “trojka” will again field joint candidates for mayors, at least in Sarajevo, and the fight will be for the municipality of Centar.

Some NiP councilors clearly told Patria that Mandić cannot be a candidate again and that NiP Centar will not support such a thing.

What is interesting in this whole story is that Mandić is supported by Our Party, even though he publicly attacked its president, Edin Forto, over some personnel decisions. However, it seems that Mandić and Forto have found common ground when it comes to NiP.

Given that NiP and even SDP gave preference to Our Party in the last elections, especially the Prime Minister position of Sarajevo Canton, which was held by Forto and now Nihad Uk, even though both NiP and SDP have better results, it is expected that these two parties will have preference in the upcoming municipal elections.

It is obvious that Konaković makes the final decision, which he clearly indicated at the very beginning of the recall story by reminding his colleagues that “the president has the authority to take some radical steps.” However, whether such steps will ultimately affect NiP's results will be shown in the elections themselves.