Nikšić ahead of SDP internal elections: I appreciate the contribution of my opponents

Interview by A. Aljović

Internal elections for the president of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be held on Sunday. The candidates are Svetozar Pudarić, a long-time member of the SDP, Edin Delić, the mayor of Lukavac municipality, and the current SDP president, Nermin Nikšić.

Ahead of the elections, Nikšić spoke to Patria about the expulsions of prominent SDP members from the party, and his opinion of his opponents.

After the expulsion of prominent SDP members from the party, you stated that you regretted it, but that you had no choice. Do you still believe that the entire case could not have been resolved differently?

- Nothing has changed in the meantime regarding my feelings. It was not an easy or simple decision, and I sincerely regret that it came to this. But we were simply faced with a choice: whether to allow members of the SDP leadership to practically sit on two chairs, to be in the SDP leadership and at the same time in the initiative committee of a new political organization, or to oppose it. I must say that the decision of the Main Board, besides being made by an overwhelming majority, also received the support of the membership in our organizations. So the answer is simple. The integrity of these people is not questioned for a moment, although there are huge differences among them. This is simply about respecting certain rules and order within the party.

An interesting comment appeared on social networks – "they fell for Lagumdžija's sweet talk." Did Lazović, Professor Komšić, and other expelled SDP members enter the entire project of creating a new political movement in BiH carelessly, regardless of their credibility and experience?

- Whether it was careless, I don't know, whether someone consciously lured them in, I don't know. What I do know is that 3-4 months ago I heard about these activities, calls, lobbying, promises that were made to SDP members across Bosnia and Herzegovina. People called me to ask what it was, to ask if the SDP and I personally were involved. Naturally, I informed my closest associates about it, but we did not make it public because it was clear that those who were doing it would deny everything, and in the end, it would seem like we were accusing them without reason. We reacted only when the official documents regarding the formation of the movement were published, which then immediately got another name. So, I'm sorry if anyone was manipulated, but I haven't noticed any of the expelled members admitting it and saying they didn't know what it was about. I also heard that they were assured that we would not dare or have the strength, not to mention the original wording, to make a decision about expulsion. They clearly misjudged. I will never allow anyone in the SDP to be sanctioned for having a different opinion or for criticizing the president or any other body in the SDP, but I will do everything to protect the SDP, to protect the sovereignty of the SDP bodies and our right to make decisions autonomously, without external influence.

After the last internal SDP elections, you kept your opponent Jasmin Imamović as a collaborator after you defeated him for party president. How do you view your new opponents for the position of SDP president?

- Although we were opponents, although there were some sparks then, you are absolutely right that Jasmin Imamović is one of my collaborators today. Our relationship is one of mutual respect and appreciation; he is one of the SDP's brands who has shown that he has the support of the citizens of Tuzla and who consistently wins convincingly in mayoral elections. It is interesting how, after the 2016 elections, without knowing about our relationship, some of the people who are key in the new initiative committee tried to draw Jasmin into an attempt to overthrow me. He refused them, and according to the behavioral pattern, whoever is not with them is against them, and Jasmin became the target of their attacks. On the other hand, Denis Bećirović received 200,000 votes in the last elections, but he decided not to run for party president, instead accepting to lead my Election Staff. At that time, he was also declared some kind of traitor. If he had wanted to overthrow me, those same people who are now criticizing him would have turned him into their "deity." And now I can apply this pattern to all my collaborators. Anyone who supports me, even independent intellectuals, are all anathematized and all exposed to attacks in compliant media and on social networks. Why am I telling you all this? Simply, the election of the SDP president is an issue that interests many outside the SDP, including our political opponents from the SDA, who openly say they are waiting and hoping for a change at the head of the SDP because their further activities depend on it. It is difficult for me to understand the need for such a negative campaign, spreading untruths, and even fabrications. Nevertheless, it is every candidate's right to choose how they will conduct their campaign. I have chosen to endure and will not attack any of them. I believe that in this way I am preserving the dignity of the president and the SDP as a whole. As for my opponents, I greatly appreciate the contribution that each of them individually has made to the development and results of the SDP at different times. I do not consider them my opponents, let alone enemies. For anyone who wants to respect the SDP Statute, there will be a place in the SDP, just as each of us will certainly choose our closest collaborators.