To whom and how Izetbegović extends his hand: Situation in SDA increasingly difficult and complicated

In the Party of Democratic Action, a situation currently prevails that does not inspire confidence that they are stable and capable of pulling Bosnia and Herzegovina towards Euro-Atlantic integrations and NATO, writes Patria.

Burdened by events in the coalition with the HDZ, the relationship between Bakir Izetbegović and Fahrudin Radončić, which also affects the relationship between the SDA and the SBB, a difficult political situation, economic instability, and announcements of a blockade of the government from the RS, they are increasingly distancing themselves from „cleaning house“ within their own ranks, which ultimately results in poor staffing decisions and finding themselves in difficult situations.

It is therefore not surprising that Izetbegović stated that there is no need to rush regarding the renegade four in the BiH Parliament. Well-informed sources say that Izetbegović is focused on not losing his position as SDA president when he leaves the BiH Presidency, and he is under great pressure, not only from outside but also from within his own party.

- They are still in the SDA. Whether two or three or all four of them will remain in the SDA Club, we will see – said Izetbegović, answering a journalist's question about how he comments on the fact that Salko Sokolović and Senad Šepić will no longer participate in the SDA Club, regardless of some conclusions of the party's Presidency.

However, Izetbegović is apparently not concerned with unity at this time, or he is burdened by external factors and has forgotten that some time ago he said that „it is not the time to weaken the SDA Club, at a moment when we extended our hands to each other“.

This is how Izetbegović commented on the announcement by Senad Šepić, a representative in the BiH Parliament, that he would no longer act within the SDA Club.

But, shortly after that, the entire BiH public witnessed a new statement by Izetbegović in a TV interview, in which, when asked by a journalist whether he was ready to talk „one on one“ with MP Šepić, who had repeatedly invited him to talk, he replied that „he would not give him that significance until he becomes the president of a party, and a parliamentary one at that, which will have at least 120,000 votes, and then he could talk to him“.

Also, at the last session of the SDA Presidency, held 20 days ago, Izetbegović put to a vote a decision to expel Senad Šepić from the SDA. As the media reported, he received support from 5 out of 30 members of the Presidency, and after his proposal failed, he suspended further procedure.

Therefore, the statement and comment that „we extended our hands to each other“ shows what kind of relationship, credibility, and political hypocrisy is at play, and because of which people with the greatest trust of voters in the SDA are eliminated or withdraw from the SDA themselves.

On the other hand, Šemsudin Mehmedović and Sadik Ahmetović are slowly but surely returning under the wing of the party. They claim they can change things when they are inside, but it is not clear how, because they have always been inside, they are even founders of the party, but there were no changes nor were their proposals taken into account.

It is certain that the turbulence will continue, and it will be interesting to follow the „movement“ of the Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton, Elmedin Konaković, who publicly opposed some decisions of the SDA, and publicly admitted that he is for democracy within the party, and that those who received 30,000 votes must be in the party bodies.

Whether Izetbegović will now have to extend his hand in the other direction will soon be known, because every day the cards are being thrown on the table more openly.

Written by: Amina Čorbo-Zećo