Godfatherly ties with Prime Minister Uk: Jusufbegović gets permanent job in Sarajevo City Administration

(Patria) - After months of controversy and media speculation about political influence and godfatherly ties within the Sarajevo city government, the public learned that Admir Jusufbegović, who is the godfather of Nihad Uk, received a decision on permanent employment as a civil servant.

The Sarajevo City Council in December 2021 did not adopt the proposal for appointing candidate Destan Hodžić to the position of ombudsman, although he had been previously proposed.

This was followed by complaints, reactions from the BiH Ombudsman, and a new procedure under which former mayor Benjamina Karić submitted a new proposal of candidates who met the competition requirements.

Throughout this process, Jusufbegović was repeatedly mentioned in public as a candidate close to the power structure, but also privately connected to prominent actors – which was denied at the time.

In a statement to the media, Nihad Uk said:

- He is my godfather. Anyone who could watch the session could conclude what the real truth is. I was not a member of the commission that decided on that.

However, the new information that Jusufbegović received a decision on permanent employment further fuels suspicions of politicized hiring, clientelism, and non-transparent practices in the institutions of the City of Sarajevo.

And while officials justify themselves with procedures and regulations, the public increasingly gets the impression that decisions are made based on godfatherly ties, not on competition.