Nikšić says: I will reveal publicly who the people are and from which party they extorted me over Lukač

We can't wait for the new SDA-HDZ-DF government to arrive. Regardless of the wait for its formation, this government must work at full capacity and is working in accordance with the Constitution and the law until the new one arrives, said the current Federal Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić on last night's CD FACE TV, reports the Patria news agency.

Speaking about the „decision to sell 14 companies in which the state has ownership“, which has caused a great stir in recent days, Nikšić said it is not true that the state is selling companies.  

- You probably had the same information in the news a year ago. The government considered the plan and program of the FBiH Privatisation Agency. Those same companies were also in the plan last year. The government considered that plan then too and made concrete decisions.

Now the government has approved the plan and program of the Privatisation Agency, in case someone appears to buy and so that the procedure could be opened and negotiations could begin. The final decision on the sale of those companies will be made by the government on a case-by-case basis.

It is impossible for this to happen during the mandate of this government, because if any procedure is initiated, it will take time. The entire procedure is led by the Agency, and the government only makes the final decision, explained Nikšić.  

He also said that there is no deal between him and Željko Komšić after the SDP, with its delegates' signatures in the FBiH House of Peoples, unblocked the process of appointing the leaders of the Federation of BiH.

He also commented on Komšić's request that appointments, when ministerial portfolios are taken over, should go vertically.

- My experience is different. That vertical functioning is not good. When the Platform fell apart, it was good that the minister was from the SDA and the director from the SDP. That way they were dependent on each other and cooperated. That is my experience, I conveyed it to Komšić, he listened to me, but ultimately he decides, states Nikšić.

Asked who is the head of the SDP, him or Zlatko Lagumdžija, and why a council was created that includes the former president of this party, Nikšić said:

- The SDP has always had its councils. This council would not be interesting if Lagumdžija were not in it, and as if he will now run the SDP. Let's leave him alone, and let the SDP do its job.  

And if Lagumdžija won't leave you alone, was the next question, to which Nikšić gave a short answer:  

- If Lagumdžija won't leave us alone, there is a remedy for that.

Speaking about Lagumdžija's letter in which he stated that the SDP must not put on the handbrake when it comes to the election of the leaders of the FBiH, and that he nevertheless did put it on, Nikšić explained that he believes it was a careless statement.

- Like any other party member, Lagumdžija has the right to his opinion. Mine was the opposite. It was supported by the majority of the Presidency members, and out of 97 members of the Main Board, as many as 84 were in favour. I don't see it as my position defeating Lagumdžija's. My goal is not to be stronger than Zlatko, my goal is for the SDP to be stronger, said Nikšić.

The first man of the SDP again spoke about the extortion by FTV in the case of appointing Dragan Lukač as director of the Federal Police Administration.  

- I was blackmailed. There was an offer to agree to Lukač's appointment, and as a gesture of goodwill, I was offered that a report on the life and work of Nermin Nikšić would not be broadcast in a TV show. I said, you can broadcast it, but I do not agree to that, emphasised Nikšić.

He did not want to say who extorted him, stating only that he would „keep the name for the competent authorities if it is talked about“.

- It is not about the party. There were people, but it is known who it was and from which party. When there is an opportunity and the time comes, I will say who it was, stated Nikšić.

Also, he added that it is not about whether he is for or against Lukač, but about respecting the new Law on Internal Affairs of the FBiH, based on which the government unanimously made the decision that the competition must be annulled and a new one announced.

Nikšić said that for four years he endured satanisation in the media that he would not wish on anyone.

- What matters to me is that I am clean. I know what I did and how I worked. I am ready to answer for every one of my deeds. I also know what others did. When you have a weapon in your hands, you can also shoot, said Nikšić, adding at the end that it does not occur to me to trample on Lagumdžija now that he is leaving.