Nikšić's confusion, Čović's clear line: Without changes to the South Interconnection Law, everything will remain just words on paper!

By: Amina Čorbo-Zećo

Amidst a sea of political statements, press releases, and mutual accusations, the average citizen is left with only one question – whom to believe?

We are witnessing such a case again regarding the South Interconnection project.

Dragan Čović's latest statements have once again exposed all the weaknesses of political dialogue in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where agreements are easily broken, and trust is hard to build and quickly lost. And what is even more disturbing is the confirmation that Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić is not telling the truth, or at least is trying to revise his own words when it is politically convenient.

Namely, Nikšić himself publicly admitted that agreements with political partners were broken. He tried to mitigate it with a "human gesture," as he calls it, by calling and apologizing to Dragan Čović, saying openly: "We will outvote you." However, a few days later, he is trying to mitigate the damage by claiming that the media misinterpreted his words.

"Čović did not announce changes to the law. I stood next to the man. He said – the law was adopted and entered into force. We have nowhere to go back to," Nikšić stated on April 17, trying to explain the confusion he himself had previously created by talking about possible changes to the South Interconnection Law.

Instead of a clear and consistent stance, we received contradictions, excuses, and shifting blame to the media.

On the other hand, Dragan Čović remains consistent, without turning back, without relativizing. While a guest on N1, he clearly said: the law is important, but without including the interests of the Croatian people, its implementation will not be possible.

The project, which passes through the Herzegovina-Neretva and West Herzegovina Cantons, according to him, must have a structure that also includes the local community to which it directly belongs.

"The law can be implemented when the interests of the Croatian people are incorporated. This is a strategic project for us. We don't want someone else to manage it – it's our wealth," Čović said, clearly stating that he is seeking concrete changes to the law, otherwise the project may remain just on paper.

Are you wondering now whom to believe? In this case, I trust Dragan Čović more.

Not because he is a flawless politician (quite the opposite), but because he does not hide his views, does not try to diminish responsibility, and does not deny previous statements.

Consistency and clarity on such issues are worth more than subsequent apologies and confusing justifications, which is all Nikšić has offered us so far.