SDA is a strategic partner for HDZ, Dodik could remain in opposition

Today's meeting of the HDZBiH and SDA delegations, held behind closed doors in Mostar, proceeded in a completely relaxed atmosphere, one of the participants in the negotiations told Patria.

-I think we have successfully concluded this matter, although based on the statements made publicly in recent days, one could not have predicted it. Everyone was leaning towards conditions and delays, but there was none of that at any moment, our source states.

An agreement was reached on the swift establishment of government at the cantonal and federal levels, with discussions on the state level to follow later.

HDZBiH leader Dragan Čović stated at the meeting that SDA is a strategic partner for them when it comes to forming the government, and that he has no objections to the Programmatic Principles signed by SDA, DF, and the Alliance for Changes of Republika Srpska, but he emphasized that after the talks to be held in the coming days, he will be ready to sign "a new document".

More precisely, what was signed on November 9th is the foundation for further development, i.e., putting "on paper" what Croatian interests are.

At this moment, as agreed by SDA and HDZ BiH, the most important thing is the formation of cantonal assemblies to expedite the election of delegates to the House of Peoples of the FBiH, after which the constitution of the complete legislative and executive government in the Federation of BiH would follow.

The basis of government in all ten cantons, as well as at the level of the Federation of BiH, will be SDA, HDZ, and DF. These three parties have a total of 55 out of 98 deputies in the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, which is sufficient to form a new BiH government to be led by a prime minister from SDA.

Incidentally, as Čović stated at today's press conference in Mostar after the meeting, starting Monday, he and Bakir Izetbegović, deputy president of SDA, will meet regularly at the BiH Presidency building, where they will have the opportunity to discuss the formation of the government.

- Our key goal is to get BiH moving, to urgently try to stabilize it socially and economically. How we will resolve the issue of partners from RS is a question before us and one we did not burden ourselves with today, but I am sure of one thing. If these are the right partners, and I think they are, then they will find a solution to every problem with the aim of establishing government as soon as possible - said Čović.

Speaking about the formation of government in RS, and his previous statements regarding SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, Čović replied that he would like to see a stable government at all levels.

- We will see very soon how it will end. HDZ has a huge responsibility, as does SDA. We are the absolute winners of these elections, and that demands us to form a government and change things for the better in BiH - said Čović.

Incidentally, Patria's source stated that Čović asked the members of the SDA delegation how things were progressing in Republika Srpska according to their information, and whether Dodik or the Alliance for Changes of RS now had a majority to form the government.

The issue of the parliamentary majority in RS, as announced by NDP leader Dragan Čavić, will be resolved, meaning it will be known who has the crucial 42 out of 83 votes, only when the constitutive session is held on November 24th.