Komšić condemns Čengić's insults toward Begić and Mešalić, SDP member reacts swiftly

(Patria) - Candidates for the mayor of Sarajevo's Stari Grad municipality - SDP's Irfan Čengić and SDA's Dženan Selimbegović - faced off today in their first TV debate ahead of the early elections scheduled for October 29.

Among other things, Čengić stated that he is the official candidate of the SDP and claimed that six parties, including DF, have given him their support.

Selimbegović responded, saying that as far as DF is concerned - Komšić had coffee with him (Čengić).

- (Mahir) Mešalić and (Zlatan) Begić had coffee with me and thus each decided to support a different candidate - said Selimbegović.

- Mahir Mešalić and Begić need a GPS to find Sebilj, let alone talk about Stari Grad. There is not a single DF member from the Sarajevo Canton who did not support the candidacy. What matters most is what the people of Stari Grad will show on October 29 - said Čengić.

Selimbegović replied:

"With deep respect for Professor Begić, who defends important stances and values so resolutely, it was very important for me that he recognized those values in me. The health of the entire house depends on a solid foundation."

The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and DF leader Željko Komšić reacted to Čengić's harsh and uncollegial outburst regarding the two mentioned DF parliamentarians.

"Very presumptuous and rude! I expect Čengić to at least apologize to both Begić and Mešalić, as well as to everyone who is not from Sarajevo," Komšić wrote on Facebook.

Čengić realized he had made a mistake and, "at the speed of light," responded from his private Facebook profile with a comment on Komšić's profile, offering an apology to both Mešalić and Begić.

"Tonight during the debate on N1, I made a rude remark about Mahir Mešalić and Zlatan Begić, who supported my opponent.

They have my apology; it was in the heat of the show. I am not a person who looks down on anyone, and I myself said during the show that I need a GPS to find Kapija in Tuzla.

I am not someone who deals in lies, neighborhood gossip, and that kind of show concept. I hope that next time I will be able to talk about new projects for the municipality and how we plan to solve the accumulated problems," wrote Čengić.