Papić: SBB and SDA United Not by Reforms but by Interests, Komšić Should Not Run

What the new coalition (SDA, SBB, HDZ BiH) can achieve was discussed in last night's edition of the show Tema TV1 with Nikolina Veljović. Current political developments and further views on the process were analyzed in the studio by Enver Kazaz, Pejo Gašparević, Ivana Marić, and Žarko Papić, reports the Patria news agency.

Professor Kazaz believes that the SDA-SBB coalition is welcome from the standpoint of political rationality and the fight against the crisis, and that this coalition finally ends the crisis of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina that began back in 2010 with the adventures of Zlatko Lagumdžija.

Journalist and publicist Pejo Gašparević states that this coalition is more natural than the one between the SDA and the Democratic Front, and that it can have a positive impact on political developments in BiH, given that the country is traumatized by conflicts and quarrels, so any reconciliation is welcome. He notes that this coalition also has the support of international structures and the Islamic Community.

Political analyst Ivana Marić said it is a pity that Izetbegović and Radončić did not form the government immediately after the elections, as the adoption of many laws would not have been delayed so long. She expressed doubt about the Reform Laws and added that signing an agreement cannot be called a historic and all-Bosnian unity.

Professor Žarko Papić stated that as a citizen of BiH, he is glad that the political situation in the Federation is stabilizing, but that, as he says, he is not an optimist and would like to be wrong in his view that this coalition composition will not last until the end of the mandate. He adds that these two parties were united not by reforms but by interests.

On the other hand, Kazaz is of the opinion that this coalition will last until the end of the mandate because the interests of the two parties are very large, reflected primarily in stopping the political war, and that these two parties are condemned to each other, and that we are facing a period of stable government and fierce struggle between these two parties.

Enver Kazaz stated that one of the key issues the new coalition will face is the amendment of the Election Law, i.e., resolving the Croatian national question. He notes that the three leaders (Izetbegović, Radončić, and Čović) are in a situation where they could resolve this issue, which would bring BiH into a period of complete political stability.

Komšić as a candidate for member of the BiH Presidency

In Tema TV1, they also discussed the participation of the DF in the government and the announcement by its leader Željko Komšić that he could run in the next elections for a member of the BiH Presidency from the Croatian people.

"I truly hope that Komšić is not thinking of running again for the Croatian member of the BiH Presidency, because that would be an act of the greatest possible destabilization of BiH. I think he learned his lesson by eliminating Suljagić and Bajrović de facto from the DF leadership. I did send him messages before that only he doesn't know and that he hasn't been informed yet that he is not the leader of the DF, but these two are," said Professor Papić.

"Željko Komšić, that's ridiculous. He wouldn't get even 15,000 votes. What Komšić allowed Emir Suljagić and Reuf Bajrović to do to him is a complete waste of capital. I like Željko Komšić, I find him sympathetic, I liked that party, but that wasting of political capital and now the announcements that he will run. That's typical of Komšić, like those statements 'they'll get it on the nose and on the fingers,'" says Kazaz.

Gašparević believes that Komšić obviously did not have the references for a big political game, given that people close to him manipulated him and that in the past he was part of the problem in BiH.

"He was a product of the work of Sarajevo media, which have now become his critics, so he lost that anchor point on which he built his public image. I would like him to run so we can see exactly how much he is worth. I think it's about minor percentages," says Gašparević.