Lagumdžija and Korać Attempt to Stage an Extraordinary Congress and Election of SDP President

At the session of the SDP Main Board held on Saturday, November 29, a false impression was created that everyone is satisfied and that preparations for the party's extraordinary Congress are going smoothly. In reality, it is completely different.

In this party, it is boiling like a pot, with rebellion among prominent members in almost all municipal organizations, some of whom are already requesting resignations, because it has become clear to everyone that the election of new members of the Main Board, as well as the Congress where a new president and leadership will be elected, will be staged, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

According to information obtained by Patria from those fighting to restore democracy in the SDP and free it from the shackles imposed on this party by Zlatko Lagumdžija through his autocratic rule, the entire party's Personnel Commission (except for its president Alija Behmen, who has openly rebelled) is engaged to literally sweep away all those who have criticized Lagumdžija's previous work, as well as his closest associates, and to prevent them from becoming members of the Main Board.

Under Lagumdžija's watchful eye, all strings are pulled by Lidija Korać, who, for example, received only four votes during the selection of Main Board members, but was still elected, while Ivan Brigić, who had more than 20 votes from members of the municipal organization, was removed.

A similar situation occurred in the Novo Sarajevo Municipal Organization, where Miroslav Živanović was removed from the list, and in his place, Lagumdžija's loyal cadre Marin Ivanišević was installed.

It is more than obvious that Lagumdžija, even though he will no longer be the president of the SDP, wants at all costs to install his own people in order to continue running the party.

For the record, at the Main Board meeting on Saturday, a list of five candidates for the SDP president was established, including Nermin Nikšić, Besima Borić, Svetozar Pudarić, Mirko Pejanović, and Selim Bešlagić.

The greatest support from the field, i.e., the largest number of candidacies from municipal organizations, is held by Nermin Nikšić, who enjoys great respect not only among SDP members but also in the public.

Whether the "healthy" forces in this party will manage to fight against Lagumdžija, Korać, and others who have ruled and managed the enormous sums of money this party has for years will be known on Saturday, December 6. Until then, six turbulent days await SDP members.

WHY THE MAIN BOARD IS IMPORTANT

According to internal party decisions, 70 percent of the money received for the work of councilor/deputy clubs at all levels of government flows into the Main Board's coffers, and 30 percent into municipal organizations. Therefore, as our interlocutors explained, it is not surprising that Lagumdžija is trying to install as many of his people as possible in the Main Board in order to continue managing enormous sums of money, as well as all other political activities within the SDP.

Among those who thus secure a cushy job for themselves is Lidija Korać, who lives exclusively from the money the party receives from the budget, and who, for the record, was punished with a ban on running in elections due to a conflict of interest.