How the "Four" Allowed SDA to Drag Bogićević into the "Mud"

By: A. Čorbo-Zećo

After the Local Elections in Sarajevo, the "Four" triumphantly declared victory, claiming their candidate Bogić Bogićević would be smoothly elected mayor. However, as things stand today, the election of the "Four's" candidate is far from a done deal.

The new convocation of the City Council is just beginning to be elected, but the complexity and unpredictability of the process, as well as conflicts within the "Four's" councilor clubs and party switching, have seriously worried the uncrowned leader of the "Four", Elmedin Dino Konaković.

Especially since the SDP's candidate for mayor, Bogić Bogićević, himself stated that he agreed if there was indeed a comfortable majority.

It is indicative that Konaković reacted to the statement of the Mayor of Sarajevo, Abdulah Skaka, who stated what is completely clear – that the indirect election of the mayor is yet to come and that nothing is finalized yet – while the SDP, which nominated Bogićević, did not react, for example. This confirms that Konaković has a significantly greater interest in appointing Bogićević as mayor than the SDP itself. Namely, Bogićević is necessary for Konaković in the position of mayor for several reasons, none of which are in Bogićević's interest. First and foremost, the leader of the "Four" lacks civic credibility, so a prominent name like Bogićević would be useful to cover up his political missteps and failures.

Behind the patriotic reasons for Bogićević's candidacy lies Konaković's motive to cover his hard-line radicalism and populism with Bogićević's name, and in the position of mayor, from where he will have no substantial influence on the policy pursued by the "Four". It is already clear that Konaković will seek a deputy mayor position and a leadership role in the City Council.

In addition, Konaković fears a situation where Abdulah Skaka, the SDA candidate, would once again be the Mayor of Sarajevo, who did not perform poorly in his term. We recall the implemented projects such as the construction of the new Cable Car, the renovation of the Olympic Museum, or the organization of EYOF in Sarajevo.

Konaković must avoid at all costs a situation where he would have to compete with the ambitious Skaka for another four years, whose re-election could also have great symbolic significance for the SDA. The problem is that the "Four", apparently due to poor personnel, have already faced transfers that are not foreign to the SDA.

Therefore, it is extremely important for the leader of the "Four" to spend Bogićević's political capital and thereby weaken both the SDP and the entire left bloc, giving them the position of mayor, a modest budget, and even fewer competencies, while keeping for himself a position in the shadows from which he controls the generous cantonal budget.

That is why it is absolutely clear why pressure has been put on future councilors and the entire public, who are preparing for chaos if, by any chance, Bogićević does not have enough votes. The appointment of Skaka by force could somehow be "digested" considering the SDA's past actions, but Bogićević's credibility must not be compromised by "gathering votes".

Finally, when he agreed to the candidacy, the condition was the existence of a majority.

Bogićević himself is not saying much for now, and according to sources close to him, his desire is to avoid a difficult and arduous political struggle in his already advanced political years.

It is unlikely that Bogićević will agree to be indebted to Konaković for securing the minimum votes for the mayoral mandate in a questionable manner.

It is hard to believe that he will agree to end his political career in such a way, and it is hard to believe that the SDP will agree not to protect Bogićević in the way this political giant deserves.

To avoid any misunderstandings, it is clear that the eventual election of Skaka would come with the votes of "political turncoats", and the "Four's" problem is that they have accepted such individuals into their ranks.