SDP bodies have not yet considered election results, membership demands Congress be convened: Helez candidate for president

(Patria) - The bodies of the Social Democratic Party of BiH have not yet analyzed the election results, and a decision on holding the SDP Congress, where a new president will be elected, should be made soon. There are attempts to extend the current situation for a certain period so that Nermin Nikšić remains the president of the SDP. However, many do not want to support such a scenario and demand that the Statute be followed. The vice-president of the party and the most likely candidate for president, Zukan Helez, also spoke about the election of a new SDP president.

Speaking for FTV's Mreža, he said that it is no secret that the SDP lost five mayors in the local elections, and gained three mayors.

"I am proud that two mayors are from the canton I come from for the first time in history. And I am glad and proud of one mayor in the smaller BiH entity, I think it is the only pro-Bosnian party that has a mayor in the other entity. That is what is good. It is not good that we lost five mayors - I see some of my colleagues when they are guests, they say we are moderately satisfied. So it is not good that we lost Gračanica, Gradačac, Maglaj, Ključ, Jablanica. That must be said. I think the SDP should hold a Congress. The delegates said that the mandate of the president and all cantonal and municipal presidents is extended for two years. Those two years expire next year. It would not be good to deceive such a number of people. My position will also be, as vice-president of the SDP, to hold a Congress," said Helez.

He points out that he has not yet decided whether he will be a candidate, and that it will also depend on proposals within the party.

When asked who he sees as president, himself, Denis Bećirović, or Vojin Mijatović, he said that there are other people.

"Irfan Čengić is growing into a good politician. I think he has good qualities for these high positions, as does Benjamin Karić, both in terms of education and political stance. Jasmin Imamović, who is already seasoned. I think the SDP has several names that could take over, even Nikšić as president, if we agree on that, if we find the statutory possibilities - it's not a problem at all," said Helez.

He also spoke about the situation in the Sarajevo SDP, stating that there are two factions.

"I think everyone has realized, both sides, if we can call them that, that they have two groups, that the greatest damage is done by someone from the outside who is sowing discord among them, who presents himself as the grey eminence of the SDP, and I think they have realized that he is not a good friend to them, what he is doing," he said.

He points out that there is no evidence of who the grey eminence is, but that "this grey eminence is entangled in these problems around the Clinical Center, the appointment of directors, but what is being said and known is that the strings are again from another country, through some companies, that is not good".