Sarajlić Resigns, Will KS Government Be Confirmed (or Not)?

By: Amra Vrabac

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The KS Assembly session announced for March 3, which includes the confirmation of the new KS Government composed of SDA, SBB, and DF, could ultimately be canceled following the scandal that erupted within the Party of Democratic Action regarding the rigging of elections for the head of the KO SDA Sarajevo, as well as the election of the mayor and new ministers in the KS Government.

One of the actors in the audio recording is Sabahudin Delalić, an SDA representative in the KS Assembly. He has not commented on the recording published on Friday evening by Semir Efendić, the mayor of Novi Grad municipality, who lost the race for the president of KO SDA Sarajevo. Efendić only revealed what is an open secret within SDA. This is supported by the mild and delayed reaction of the head of SDA, Bakir Izetbegović, to the controversial recording. Izetbegović, apparently, will not give up Asim Sarajlić. It is obvious that Sarajlić is aware of how much he owes Izetbegović, as he refers to himself as "the one next to Bakir" in the recording. However, information suggests that Sarajlić will indeed resign from all party positions. Whether this will only be to calm the public will be revealed quickly. 

All names mentioned in the recording should be temporarily removed from political activity until all circumstances related to the mentioned elections are clarified. 

Interestingly, the only one to react to the recording from the SDA Club in the KS Assembly was Aljoša Čampara, who demanded that SDA abandon the two proposed ministers (Emir Hadžihafizbegović and Senad Hasanspahić), dismiss Asim Sarajlić, sanction all actors of the recording, and for SDA to apologize to the public. So far, SDA has done nothing to distance itself from such actions of its cadres. In this way, Čampara clearly indicated that he distances himself from such actions of SDA, and therefore, his support for the new KS Government cannot be expected. It should be reminded that Čampara was not involved in the process of overthrowing Edin Forte's KS Government; Mirza Čelik and Mahir Dević were at the forefront of that.

Therefore, the coalition of SDA, SBB, and DF will face its toughest test tomorrow. If, by chance, there are 18 votes for the proposed KS Government tomorrow, those representatives will show that they have no morals, honor, or personal integrity, but are willing to engage in dirty games of party power brokers. Another scenario that can be expected is that there will be no quorum for the session, meaning that 18 representatives will not be present (which is less likely, as the opposition, numbering 15 representatives, will certainly attend), or that there will not be enough votes to confirm the KS Government.

And while part of the public wishes for precisely such a scenario, that the new Government is not confirmed, one important question remains: what will happen with the KS Budget for 2020? Will SDA once again use its methods of blackmail and pressure to secure votes for the new Government, or will the other two coalition partners have enough reason and responsibility towards the citizens of KS to vote for the KS Budget to ensure the normal functioning of Sarajevo Canton?

Such a scandal, revealed just three days before the confirmation of the new KS Government, has shown how the system tailored to SDA actually works – abuse of institutions, blackmail, pressure, "dealing with" people, i.e., buying them off, so it is clear that the government led by Edin Forto was also overthrown in this manner.

SBB and DF, as coalition partners, have remained silent about SDA's actions. All that remains is hope that the conscience of individuals will finally prevail, and they will vote accordingly tomorrow, should the session be held at all. Any other scenario, especially one where the KS Government is appointed under any pretext, sends a clear message to the citizens – get out of this country as soon as possible, there is no light here anymore.