Nikšić: I will advocate for having a candidate for the Presidency from the Bosniak people

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Presidency of the SDP of Bosnia and Herzegovina discussed candidates for the BiH Presidency at the 2018 General Elections at today's session in Sarajevo.

- We opened the discussion about the candidacy for the BiH Presidency, with approximately ten political parties colloquially called the 'pro-European bloc'. The announcement that we should have candidates for all three members of the Presidency came from me. The SDP is the strongest party in that bloc, but we will not make the mistake of insisting it must be our way. Therefore, today we will establish principles for those who wish to run for the Presidency from the RS. Whoever accepts the principles we agree upon can count on the support of the SDP and its partners from that bloc. In the coming period, we will concretize this idea and publicly offer it to those who aspire to the candidacy for the BiH Presidency – said SDP President Nermin Nikšić.

Nikšić added that the prevailing opinion in the SDP Presidency is that the party and this bloc should have a candidate for the President of the RS from the Bosniak and Croat peoples.

- Without any hesitation, I will respect the party bodies, but I will also advocate for the SDP to have its candidate from the Bosniak people for the Presidency member – said Nikšić.

For some time now, the possibility has been mentioned that the SDP will have candidates for the BiH Presidency from all three constituent peoples in BiH, which has caused divided opinions among political analysts and some SDP officials.

Some believe that three candidates for the Presidency would be proof of the party's multi-ethnic and civic character, while opponents of the idea hold the view that this would only scatter votes, ultimately directly benefiting the candidates of national parties.

This particularly applies to the RS, as many believe that an SDP candidate would make it easier for Milorad Dodik in his fight against the candidate of the Alliance for Change.