Nikšić: We can wake up a lot of the half of the electorate that does not vote

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - SDP BiH President Nermin Nikšić believes that the civic bloc or the left in Bosnia and Herzegovina has an obligation to offer three members for the Presidency of BiH in the October elections, “to show that they are different.” 

“You will not hear names yet, I am only saying what is my view. That is my vision of BiH, I think it is worth fighting for,” said Nikšić for N1, reports the Patria agency. 

The SDP President believes that if they all move together, if they stand behind that idea, he expects they can wake up a lot of the half of the electorate that does not vote. He assessed that MP in the Parliament of BiH Denis Bećirović is one of the most serious candidates of the SDP for the member of the Presidency from the Bosniak ranks. „It is completely legitimate, he is one of the most serious candidates and has very strong support from citizens,” said Nikšić.

Speaking about Željko Komšić as the left's candidate for the member of the Presidency from the Croat ranks, Nikšić said that Komšić is a completely legitimate candidate, who he believes can win. 

„When I talk about something new, I am talking about the left needing to have three candidates for the member of the Presidency of BiH. We will separate the candidacy process from the lists because it is very important to resolve this issue as soon as possible. We have intensive talks with Our Party and we will have talks with many other parties. My wish is that people elected from the left as members of the Presidency be members of the Presidency for all citizens of BiH. I truly believe in victory,” said Nikšić, although many within the SDP itself do not agree with the idea of the left having three candidates for the Presidency of BiH, because they believe it would only „scatter” the left's votes and open the way for right-wing parties to win. Denis Bećirović himself said he does not agree with the idea of three candidates, as did prominent SDP member Miro Lazović.

“It is not important to only fight for a certain position. The citizens of BiH need to be offered new hope. I do not think the only problem in BiH is to defeat the HDZ. Likewise, we need to fight to defeat the SDA. Likewise, to win in the RS. It is very important to show people that there is something new, a new concept. If we were to eventually lose a battle for a member of the Presidency of BiH, I am sure we would at least gain the prerequisites to form a government at the state level,” said Nikšić.