How they started, so they end: SDP, NIP, and Our Party turn the Sarajevo mayor position into a marketplace again

By Amra Vrabac

The session of the Sarajevo City Council is scheduled for November 26, and the parties of the "trojka" (the three parties) have not yet found a candidate for the mayor of Sarajevo. What seemed like a formality, for one of the two deputies to become acting mayor until the end of the term and the election of a new mayor, has turned into another scandal orchestrated by the "trojka" parties.

Although there was a proposal to appoint Samir Avdić as acting mayor, after warnings from the Central Election Commission (CIK) that he could not hold two positions simultaneously, he decided to take over the mandate of a municipal councilor in Novi Grad. Regardless of the fact that the other deputy, Anja Margetić-Stakić, remained, Our Party withdrew its proposal, and the City of Sarajevo was left without a leader.

In the meantime, Margetić-Stakić spoke very openly about this process, about the move by Our Party, stating that the intention of the "trojka" parties was to avoid her appointment, so they could continue with dishonest actions. She also confirmed that she is going on annual leave from November 24, but will remain deputy until the end of her term.

Given that the City Council no longer has options, it was decided to elect a new mayor, even though that mandate will only last a few months, as the new City Council could take office in February, when the election of a new mayor and two deputies will begin.

Since the Chairman of the City Council is Jasmin Ademović, a Bosniak, and the remaining deputy is a Croat, the SDP should propose someone from the Serb or Other category for mayor. There is also an option for it to be a Bosniak candidate, but in that case, Ademović would have to leave the position of chairman, which he was prepared to do if Avdić had been elected.

According to information from the SDP, they are still looking for a candidate who is willing to accept the candidacy for mayor in this transitional period and under these circumstances.

The position of mayor was offered to Ženjo Ljubuškić, but he refused. Although we tried to contact him for more information, he did not answer our calls. The SDP Cantonal Organization Sarajevo offered Ljubuškić the option to be mayor first, and when a new mayor is elected, who will be nominated by People and Justice, to be one of the deputies. However, even such an offer is not acceptable to Ljubuškić.

On the other hand, NIP has already decided that they will propose Mirza Selimbegović as deputy mayor at Tuesday's session. He was a candidate for mayor of Novi Grad municipality but lost convincingly to the current mayor Semir Efendić. Incidentally, Selimbegović is still the chairman of the City Council of Novi Grad Municipality until the new convocation holds its constitutive session and elects the Council's leadership, or in case he is elected deputy mayor, he will leave the Municipal Council.

The SDP also offered the position of "acting mayor" to party veterans Mirko Pejanović and Anto Domazet, but it seems neither responded positively.

The farce created by the City Council and the "trojka" parties at the very end of their mandate is reminiscent of the beginning of the mandate when Bogić Bogićević was deceived, as they did not support him for mayor of Sarajevo. Instead of Bogićević, Benjamina Karić appeared overnight, who has now taken over as the mayor of Novi Sarajevo.

The duplication of positions, a modest pool of candidates, and dishonest intentions regarding certain processes have led to an unprecedented situation where Sarajevo is left without a mayor.

Whoever is appointed mayor on Tuesday, that name will be marked in black letters in the history of this city, considering everything that preceded it and what will follow until the end of this City Council's mandate.

Incidentally, although the position of mayor was part of the agreement between the "trojka" parties before the elections, and NIP experienced a drop in votes, the question is how sustainable that agreement is today. Considering the shaken relations within the "trojka," we could witness a disgrace and shame unbecoming of Sarajevo in the election of a new mayor next year.

All these games and behind-the-scenes dealings surrounding the election of the city's first man raise the question of the urgent need to change the way the mayor is elected, so that the citizens of Sarajevo from the four city municipalities can finally choose who they want at the head of Sarajevo, and not have it decided by 15 councilor votes solely based on political agreements.