Konaković: I didn't know there would be a vote for the recall, Mandić made inappropriate statements and I think Centar can do better

(Patria) - President of NIP Elmedin Konaković spoke tonight on TVSA about the recall of Centar municipality head Srđan Mandić, for the first time publicly since the initiative for the recall was voted on by councillors of the Centar Municipal Council, led by nine NIP councillors. Konaković said he was not aware of the recall.

"This turbulence in Centar Municipality surprised us in the sense that radical solutions were pursued, voting for a recall. But it did not surprise us, at least not me personally, the dissatisfaction that has been smouldering for a long time within the ranks of NIP. I myself tried several times to improve things, but it didn't work. Things are no better in Novo Sarajevo either; it's even slightly worse in the Trojka coalition. We have these problems in these two city municipalities," said Konaković.

He said he heard many arguments from his colleagues in the NIP Centar Municipal Board, with which he agrees.

"I myself think that Centar Municipality can do much better. I won't compare us with SDA; even as we are, we are much better than such an SDA. And what people expected from us is not quite at the level of expectations. What happened is surprising and happened without the knowledge of the higher bodies of the NIP party," said Konaković.

He said that the idea for the recall emerged a year ago, and perhaps he himself would have supported such an idea back then.

"This way, the recall comes at a time when the question arises: what after the recall? Will someone come who will solve the problems? After all, we signed an agreement; we are known as someone who does not deceive their partners. Problems should have been discussed. I think that at this moment, the recall is not a good solution," said Konaković, as reported by Vijesti.ba.

He said there are no factions within NIP, and that he hasn't seen Kemal Admović for several days and doesn't know whether he approves of this or not.

"That is not a topic at all. Nor do we have such a problem within NIP. I advocate freedom of speech, but I demand rationality, I demand maturity in making political decisions, and this one, it seems to me, was not mature," said Konaković.

He said that discussions within NIP will take place next week.

"In NIP, decisions of the Cantonal Board are binding for all municipal organisations. That is written in our Statute. The cantonal organisation has the task of maintaining the chemistry within the Trojka, which in the previous term brought numerous good results in the Sarajevo Canton," said Konaković.

He said that the broader context and the importance of the Trojka must be taken into account, and that the Centar municipality must not be more important than others.

"I also saw inappropriate statements by Srđan Mandić. We are friends, and Jasmin Ademović is my friend, Đozo is my wartime commander. The two of them have no ambition and will not be candidates for municipality head. They said so themselves. The terminology about DNA and SDA is crude. It is not fair and not correct to address them that way. Mandić should ask himself, there are people here who were not in SDA, and there are people here from Naša stranka, and Mandić should analyse the real reasons. There are also many apolitical people who believe that Centar should have done better. I am one of them," said Konaković.

He added that he has information that SDA, DF and SBiH have agreed on a joint appearance and support for joint candidates in the local elections.

"My people from Centar, I will send them back for a little education, remind them of the Statute and what rights the president has. I will use them if there is a need. And their dissatisfaction in Centar I largely understand and support," said Konaković.