COMMENTARY Will SDP continue to be SDA's observation mission?

By Sead Omeragić

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Is a coalition between SDA and SDP possible? If the right and left can find common ground in German democracy, why can't they here? The civic option has tried everything and today, when it seemed strongest, it remained powerless to form a government. Unfortunately, government is possible without SDA, but not without SDA's party "offspring".     

Who is the true opposition to SNSD? SDS and PDP seem non-existent, as in key views on this country, there is almost no difference between SDS and SNSD. PDP has a somewhat more realistic view of the situation in BiH and the somewhat absurd ideas of Čović and Dodik. Who is the opposition to HDZ? It exists but has almost no parliamentary power.

SDP received about four thousand votes in RS, presumably exclusively from Bosniaks. It did not even pass into the Assembly of this entity. In areas with a Croatian majority, it received a few thousand votes. So, who is SDP an opposition to? An opposition in this numerically superior third, but still a third. Therefore, SDP has no influence on SNSD or HDZ. Absolutely none. The danger of total political atrophy is approaching them. What should they do? Regardless of how hopeless it seems today, SDP must start building this country. Otherwise, they will continue to stand in the same waiting room, waiting for Mr. Godot.

For years, herds have been slaughtered for a kilo of meat, and this country is losing. One cannot live on the idea of a civic BiH and watch everything from the sidelines. This is not an opposition at the level of the Federation and the state; it is an observation mission of SDA. A radar that records the speeding of national parties in power, and all their actions are exclusively aimed at SDA's leadership. Where it receives its votes. The idea of a civic BiH has cost SDP about ten elections.

Recently, we wondered where the Serbs and Croats are in the current Government of Sarajevo Canton? This government was formed by multi-ethnic parties. It turned out that they are so multi-ethnic that they don't even keep track of who is who. Or, better said, they are not interested in the fact that the constitutions at all levels of this country require multi-ethnicity. 

Of course, Croats, Bosniaks, Serbs, everyone sees that this cannot continue. Decline, emigration, disappearance, impoverishment of ordinary people. Unfortunately, Dayton brought peace and a good basis for development, but by giving absolute rights to the national, it did not protect BiH from the interference of Belgrade and Zagreb, which regularly introduce problems and unrest here.       

Does anyone think that SDA alone can open the doors to NATO and the EU with SNSD and HDZ? Now, for the first time, the civic opposition has the opportunity to enter all new government structures and finally do something concrete. At least on these two key issues on which they do not differ with SDA. Therefore, there are common goals for both SDA and the civic opposition, and they are probably being presented for the last time in this form to the elected officials. Because, the key question is why Bosniaks vote at all? If two-thirds do not want to cooperate with SDA, and one-third does, why should this nation choose one or the other if both, after everything, squander their votes, even where they convincingly win with those votes.

There is also a real danger for the left and right Bosniak options. Some new centrist party could definitively wipe them off the political scene. It seems like this is their last chance, no matter what they think or dream today. Because currently, the construction of the idea of BiH is not underway, but a fierce battle exclusively for the state of BiH is imminent. Let both sides show if they can do it. If they cannot even govern together, it is clear what will follow in the next elections.