Leila Agić: Constant contact with citizens is the recipe for the success of left-wing parties

By Haris Ljevo

A young 23-year-old Leila Agić, originally from BiH, achieved great success in the recently held local elections in Belgium. Agić succeeded as a candidate of the Socialist Party (PS) to enter the Municipal Council of Molenbeek, one of the municipalities of the capital Brussels.

The PS achieved its best result in Molenbeek, winning 31.3 percent of the votes, which brought the party 17 seats in the local council. Among the 17 elected councilors is Leila Agić, who won 663 votes.

- I feel immense happiness, honor, and responsibility due to the results I achieved - says Leila Agić in an interview with the Patria news agency.

Leila is the president of the youth wing of the Socialist Party, but she says she will currently dedicate herself to the development of the local community.

- For now, I will dedicate myself to my municipality, but in the future, I certainly want to follow other levels of government.

She is one of several young people of BiH origin building successful political careers in EU countries. She says she will strive to use her influence to help BiH on its path to the EU.

- I have only been elected at the local level, but my party's program includes support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the EU, and of course, I will particularly support that - Agić points out.

Agić adds that there has been no contact with politicians from BiH yet, but emphasizes that she is ready to help if anyone believes her help is needed.

- I was only elected in the local elections about ten days ago, and I don't have any contact or influence yet, but I am available if it is within my capabilities.

We are aware that the right-wing is on the rise in Europe today. Agić cites the Belgian example as a good solution for the left-wing in Europe to regain its strength.

- The left generally wins elections on the French side of Belgium. I think what makes my party particularly successful at the local level is that we are constantly in the field. The solution is for elected representatives to be in daily contact with citizens, not to lock themselves in their offices.

Many agree that the EU is in a kind of crisis today. Agić points out that it is possible to emerge from the current crisis.

- I believe in Europe, but I am against the current, liberal EU. I think liberalism is the source of the EU crisis, and we must move towards a social and solidarity-based Europe to create a true European identity and overcome the selfishness that prevails in the EU - believes the president of the youth wing of the Belgian Socialist Party.

Agić started her political career at the age of 16 when she worked in the team of the candidate for President of France, Ségolène Royal. She points out that Royal greatly influenced her political career.

- She is the one who encouraged me to get involved in politics, and the ideas about ecology and good governance that she advocates are still at the heart of my political commitment.

Agić emphasizes that youth, education, women's rights, and ecology are the most important political issues she fights for in her political engagement.

She says that due to the campaign she conducted in Belgium, she did not have enough time to fully follow the election campaign in our country, but that she is aware of the political situation in BiH.

- I follow the political situation in BiH, and I admit that I was very busy with my personal campaign and did not follow it as much as I would have liked.

In my opinion, BiH should stop dividing itself into ethnic entities. Politics should be conducted for everyone in the country, for all Bosnians and Herzegovinians, where all residents live together under the same conditions.

However, today there are worrying reports about irregularities during the elections. How can we expect improvement in the country when elections are held in that context - concluded Leila Agić.

Leila Agić's family moved to Molenbeek in 1994, where they still live today. Agić is currently studying Political Science at the University of Brussels, where she is expected to complete her master's degree soon.