Nikšić: SDP will not allow itself to be presented with a fait accompli like in Mostar!

Interviewed by: A. Čorbo-Zećo

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Nermin Nikšić, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina, spoke in an interview with the Bosnian News Agency Patria, among other things, about stories that the SDA and HDZ BiH have 'agreed on something' regarding the Election Law of BiH and what that specifically entails, as well as about the SDP's relationship with DF and the SDA. 

In a crisis that, even according to assessments by SDP officials, is the most severe since the end of the aggression, tell me, have your diplomatic activities of recent days borne fruit?

- You are right, the SDP has indeed initiated a series of diplomatic activities aimed at informing our sister parties from the Party of European Socialists and the Socialist International about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The SDP delegation spoke separately with the High Representative and the Special Envoy of the European Commission, to whom we conveyed our assessment of the current situation and our view on resolving the blockade of institutions and responding to the open attack on the constitutional order and territorial integrity. Together, the President of the House of Representatives, Mr. Forto, and I wrote to all representatives from our groups in the European Parliament. It is difficult to assess the real effect of this. As we have the opportunity to hear in conversations with them, the mechanisms within the international community are slow, and when they do turn, it is like a tanker. 

But if they are heading in the right direction, they will inevitably reach their destination. We see that the member parties of the Party of European Socialists have reacted and are taking action. As can be observed, this is the most active political group in Europe regarding the response to Dodik's anti-state offensive. Representatives and countries governed by PES parties have undertaken a series of measures, without claiming that this is the result of our letters, but if they helped even to a minimal extent, we are satisfied. Of course, this is not the end of our or their activities. We will not stop until things are clarified, Dodik is properly sanctioned by both domestic and international legal order actors, and BiH again embarks on the path towards NATO and the EU. We are saddened that certain parties and their leaders from the group of people's parties support Dodik and prevent the imposition of unified EU sanctions.

It was precisely in this direction that we held an earlier meeting with Izetbegović, from whom we requested that the SDA, as a member of the European People's Party, influence the people's parties of Europe, if not to support our struggle, then at least not to stand in the way of sanctions against Dodik and not to protect him. Unfortunately, from your question and my answer, we see that we are discussing reactions to the diplomatic activities of an opposition party. I have already said that we will not stop, especially since we have no right to stop, when we are all aware of the fiasco experienced by Bosnian diplomacy, which de facto does not exist.

In line with the pressures exerted on the SDA, but equally on other parties in BiH that are of a pro-Bosnian civic conviction, can you say, because such stories come from the SDP, what exactly did the SDA agree on with the HDZ? Do you know anything concrete about such a proposal? 

- I am sure you too have had the opportunity to see the so-called Mostar agreement between the SDA and HDZ. So, there we have clearly written what the HDZ and SDA agreed on, from the elections in Mostar to “legitimate representation”. On several occasions, I have been told by interlocutors from the international community that an agreement exists between Čović and Izetbegović, but that Izetbegović conditions its implementation on our support. 

When I mention this, for the sake of truth, I always emphasize that Mr. Izetbegović denies it every time. I do not wish to speculate about what the truth is. All citizens, like myself, could hear from the public statements of Dragan Čović that he had firm promises from the SDA that they would meet his demands regarding the Election Law, which are unacceptable to us. What I want to clearly emphasize is that we in the SDP will certainly not allow ourselves to be presented with a fait accompli, as was the case with the elections in Mostar, when we agreed to support very poor solutions in the election law, just to ensure the citizens of Mostar some kind of elections. If they try to repeat a similar scenario, they should not count on the SDP. 

Is there still interest within the SDP for concrete cooperation with DF and the SDA (the document that was previously made public), primarily with DF, as an ideologically similar party to the SDP? What is so terrible that distances you from that story of consolidating the pro-Bosnian option with one goal - saving civic BiH? 

- It was never an option for the SDP to sign any document alone with the SDA and DF. The option was to talk to our partners with whom we are in government in three cantons, and other opposition parties, to see their readiness for such a step. 

I was once again convinced that honesty does not pay off when their portal published a document that I supposedly agreed with them. I am already used to such insinuations, but this was a message to my partners that I was arranging something behind their backs. 

I do not function that way; I do not set traps or deceive. I see no reason for us to sign any document with them as part of the ruling coalition. We have clearly stated our positions and principles, signed as opposition parties. We will adhere to those principles even if we remain alone. I hear that these principles are also acceptable to them. Great, that is a guarantee that nothing can be passed without us. 

I do not know if I need to remind you that the SDA secured for the SNSD and HDZ absolute control over the House of Peoples, and put in their hands the tool for blocking the state and the Federation. 

At that time, DF left the BH Bloc and chose, as part of the “Bosniak representation”, to go into government together with the SDA, HDZ, and SNSD. That is their legitimate right, with which we may agree or disagree. 

DF followed the SDA in the decision to form a state government without forming the Government of the FBiH, even though that was one of the principles they jointly swore would be respected. That is also their right, just as they had the legal right to overthrow the six-party government with the SDA in the Sarajevo Canton, and to form a government with the SDA in the Tuzla Canton. 

We have no problem with DF choosing the SDA as its closest partner, and there is nothing terrible about it, as you say. Moreover, I emphasize once again, between Dragan Čović and Željko Komšić, I would unquestionably always choose Komšić. I would like to hear Željko Komšić say whom he would support between a candidate of the SDA and a candidate of the SDP.

Respecting your efforts to explain that you are in opposition, I ask you, how is an agreement with the SBB, which was in power for seven years, acceptable to you, but not with others? 

- I do not know why anyone, including you, should respect our efforts and why we should have to explain to anyone that we are in opposition. Since you asked, I will answer, respecting your efforts to explain that you are an independent portal. Of course, we are in opposition at the state and federal levels, and in some cantons, just as it is true that we are part of the government in some cantons. 

Here we are talking about the state level. The SBB left that government of the SDA, HDZ, SNSD, and DF. I am sorry that Mr. Radončić, as by far the most active minister, left the Council of Ministers. Nevertheless, by that act, they clearly distanced themselves from the majority at the state level. 

By yielding to Čović during the formation of the state government in 2018, as well as during the formation of the FBiH Government in 2014, the SDA and DF enabled the HDZ to achieve all its goals and the greatest power since the war. 

After that, naturally, the HDZ had no interest in changing the FBiH Government for a new one in which it would have a smaller share of power. You surely do not think that we should now, through some agreement with the SDA, grant amnesty from responsibility to Prime Minister Novalić and his government for everything they have done, or to the Council of Ministers for doing nothing. Of course, that is out of the question. We in the SDP are and will remain in opposition to the criminal and corrupt government, at all levels, regardless of who is part of that government. We will never be in opposition to the state and its citizens, which we clearly demonstrate through our activities, discussed at the beginning of the interview.