Movement for Europe: Kasumović and Hadžibajrić Openly Discuss "Families" Within SDA

Independent mayors and municipal heads in Bosnia and Herzegovina have launched an open battle against party elites. They united over the past weekend, founded the Movement for Europe, and announced a campaign to seize power at the entity and state level, but not as a party, rather as a list of independents, Patria reports.

In the last local elections, they defeated candidates backed by large party machines. So far, there are seven of them, from the Una to the Drina. They say they will expand across the entire country and attract people of all faiths and nations.

Guests on the Pressing show on N1 television were two independents: the Mayor of Zenica, former Deputy Minister of Finance and Treasury of BiH Fuad Kasumović, and the Municipal Head of Sarajevo's Old Town municipality, Ibrahim Hadžibajrić.

Is it easier to be independent or a member of the SDA?

"It is easier to be in a political party. When a person runs for election as an independent, they experience all sorts of things. I could not imagine what kind of moves and blows a person endures, especially when someone 'attacks your family'," said Ibrahim Hadžibajrić.

Fuad Kasumović said he has been independent his entire life.

"Those who follow my work have seen that I have been independent my whole life. I helped the party, just as the party helped me. I received positions I was qualified for from the late Alija and Sulejman. For me, party membership cards have never meant anything in my life," said Kasumović.

He added that in his campaign he did not "touch anyone" until someone first called him out.

"I did not touch anyone in my campaign until they touched me. What Bakir said, that someone assigned something to me, that is nobody's 'inheritance.' The party should not assign me anything, but the state should. In one part, the SNSD, in another the HDZ, in a third the SDA issue permits. I and the citizens do not need a party, but a system and a state," said Kasumović.

Hadžibajrić, responding to a question he had previously raised, said that in the SDA everything revolves around a few families.

"As far as that is concerned, starting from the party Presidency and people connected to Izetbegović, people appointed to ambassadorial positions. The Bukvić family, as well. There are four or five families that are subscribed to these positions," emphasized Hadžibajrić.

He said that the Central Election Commission (CIK) made an oversight by allowing Abdulah Skaka's candidacy for the position of Mayor of Sarajevo.

The BiH CIK, Hadžibajrić explained, knew that Abdulah Skaka was a candidate for mayor, even though he was in a conflict of interest.

"The CIK knew that Abdulah Skaka was a candidate. They knew he had taken the oath as a municipal councilor, while he was in the position of deputy mayor without resigning. That is a conflict of interest and their oversight. Where is the CIK now to say they made a mistake and that they need to correct it? They even received instructions not to conduct any checks. That means anyone from another country could have applied and become mayor, if we look at these decisions. We had the same example in 2004 when the then High Representative Paddy Ashdown removed Mr. Fehim Škaljić, and he received a ban on running in elections for four years," said Hadžibajrić.

Regarding the movement of independent municipal heads, Kasumović said that large negotiations are currently underway with a large number of people.

"Currently, there are large negotiations with thousands of people; certain political parties from other ethnic groups have joined us. I cannot reveal names until people officially sign up for membership. These are people from all ethnic groups. Our problem is that the pond is big, but there are no crocodiles," emphasized Kasumović.

Zenica has never been ruled by Zenica residents

Fuad Kasumović believes that Zenica is in a difficult situation because it has never been ruled by its residents.

"Zenica has been brought to a situation where there is no heating when it is -24°C, because Zenica residents have never ruled Zenica. Mr. Zaimović, director of BH Telecom, and Šefik Džaferović call the shots in Zenica, along with a few families. The people are fed up and can no longer watch this," added Kasumović.

Obligation before God and the people

"I have already said twice, we do not want to split the votes of the SDA, HDZ, and SNSD. To all those who are satisfied and believe we are on the right path, let them vote for them. We independents have an obligation before God and the people to offer the people an alternative. Today, there is no alternative except for producing crises. Life is getting worse, and worst of all, BiH is getting smaller," Kasumović believes.

He added that the international community is an unavoidable factor, but he is absolutely not interested in them.

"The international community is an unavoidable factor, but I am absolutely not interested in them. They forced this straitjacket on us. It is important to communicate with them and maintain relations. A lot of money, when it comes to election campaigns, ends up in private pockets."