Kaplan: This is a historic chance for Stolac to be taken over after 26 years by forces that love this city

Three candidates are running for the position of municipal mayor of Stolac in the upcoming elections on October 2. The current mayor Stjepan Bošković (HDZ BiH), Salmir Kaplan (Coalition For a Better Stolac) and Mato Komšić (Social Democratic Front).

In an interview with the Patria news agency, Salmir Kaplan emphasizes that the mayoral race in Stolac is not merely a choice between two candidates, but a struggle between the politics that destroyed and burned the city and expelled Bosniaks, and the politics that offers a new and better Stolac for everyone.

The voter list for voting in Stolac includes 11,400 citizens. There are approximately 5,000 Bosniaks, including votes from abroad.

- I believe I will be elected and I don't want to think at all about what if I'm not. Stolac deserves better and more than it has had so far, says Kaplan.

PATRIA: You speak of a struggle between two politics – retrograde and forward-looking. Do you have the impression that the media are not paying enough attention to Stolac, even though the fiercest "political battle" in all of Herzegovina is currently being waged in your city in these elections?

KAPLAN: I also have the impression that the media are not covering this struggle as they should. We are also a bit "guilty" because we focused on fieldwork with people. We came to the conclusion that fieldwork can help more than a media campaign. All 11,400 voters know me and the other two candidates, so live contact is crucial here now.

PATRIA: Fieldwork is of course key. But still, Stolac is now in focus given that after 26 years, a candidate who is not from HDZ BiH could become mayor. In that context, are you satisfied with the media coverage?

KAPLAN: I noticed in some media that it was presented, let me call it professionally, as if it were a relationship between two candidates from different political options, rather than a relationship between two politics – HDZ's politics, which destroyed Stolac and expelled people, and the politics of the other candidate, which offers the restoration of Stolac without having power. We are fighting desperately in Stolac; these are not classic elections like in other municipalities where we have two candidates and we attack them. We fought against the retrograde politics of HDZ before, and we are fighting today as well.

PATRIA: What is the situation on the ground, the mood among citizens?

KAPLAN: I am satisfied with the situation. Since the beginning of the year, we have been on the ground, visiting people. People are aware of the moment. This is a historic chance for Stolac to be taken over by forces that love Stolac. These forces should come to the head of the municipality that was destroyed in the war, and now in peace unjustly placed at the bottom.

PATRIA: You say historic elections for Stolac. What message is being sent to Bosniaks in Herzegovina if you are elected mayor?

KAPLAN: For Herzegovina, it will be a symbolic incentive and a message that it is possible for people who were expelled to return to their hearths. It will be positive for Mostar and other cities in Herzegovina. When pro-Bosnian forces gather, they have a chance to win and create a positive atmosphere.

PATRIA: Stolac and Srebrenica are the symbols of this year's elections. Pro-Bosnian parties have gathered around two joint candidates. Proof that some mutual disagreements can still be "swallowed" for higher, more important goals.

KAPLAN: On one hand, it is easier because we don't have that internal Bosniak conflict, but on the other hand, it is harder because there is a great obligation and responsibility. All pro-Bosnian parties have trampled their principles in Stolac. We went a step further than Srebrenica; besides a joint candidate for mayor, we also have a joint list for the council. In case of, God forbid, some failure, and I know it will be a success, we must answer why we didn't win. Unfortunately, we have been inferior all these past years. The people who were at the helm set themselves the goal of being better than some small party, rather than generally improving the situation in Stolac. In BiH in general, we lack the courage to set higher goals for ourselves.

About 350 Croats don't even know they are registered to vote

PATRIA: In addition to the warning from the Central Election Commission of BiH that there are several hundred deceased on the voter list, you also warned them about irregularities regarding voting from abroad. What is this about?

KAPLAN: I sent a letter and we expect the Central Election Commission of BiH to compare personal documents and the signed voting instructions, and they will see that the signatures are not the same. Out of 450 Croats, at least 400 are registered at someone else's address, and at least 350 don't even know they are registered. What the Croatian National Council complains about being done to them in Derventa, HDZ is doing to us in Stolac. They register Croats without their knowledge. If there is justice and fairness, then those who did this will be criminally liable. It is not difficult to determine who the responsible persons are, because this is a classic abuse of both personal documents and voting rights.