SDA still doesn't know who to form a government with: The more of us, the better!

By Amra Varatanović

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After the Democratic Front made a decision at yesterday's Presidency session to start talks about entering the government, conclusions related to forming the government are also expected at tomorrow's SDA Presidency session, specifically a decision on who the coalition has agreed with, who is still being negotiated with, and who is no longer an option.

SDA President Bakir Izetbegović has intensely called on pro-Bosniak parties to join the government in recent months, meaning to create as broad a bloc as HDZ BiH and SNSD did by gathering their partner parties. Such a call was made again today.

The difference is that HDZ BiH and SNSD have gathered almost minor parties (SDS and PDP are not yet part of that bloc), while SDA is inviting parties with one, two, or three deputies in the State Parliament, and far more in the Federal Parliament, to join the coalition. It could be said that these parties are more necessary to SDA than SDA is to them.

Izetbegović was generous, saying that "SDA will step back a little and give up some positions," but how willing is he to actually do that? For example, in the Council of Ministers of BiH, a distribution of three ministries each between SDA, HDZ BiH, and SNSD has been agreed upon. If SDA has the Democratic Front, which has three deputies in the State Parliament, as a partner, it will have to cede one ministerial position. Will they be satisfied with just two positions within SDA?

On Sunday (before the DF's decision), Izetbegović also spoke with PDA president Mirsad Kukić. He interpreted the handshake after the meeting with the words: "A picture is worth a thousand words."

Talks were previously held with SBB and A-sda. SBB president Fahrudin Radončić stated that he is not interested in entering the government and that SDA can form a government with SNSD and HDZ BiH. On the other hand, HDZ BiH saw SBB as one of its partners, and certainly not DF.

At the same time, the narrow leadership of SDA is negotiating with delegations from HDZ and SNSD. Thus, this evening, before tomorrow's SDA Presidency session, a meeting was held by vice-presidents Denis Zvizdić, Asim Sarajlić, Safet Softić, Edin Ramić, and Šemsudin Dedić, where the negotiation process, which is not proceeding according to the planned dynamics, was discussed. As far as is known, the parties have already agreed on the distribution of portfolios, but a final agreement has not yet been reached.

The leaders of parliamentary political parties will also hold a meeting tomorrow with the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, and sign a declaration related to BiH's European path and the further implementation of necessary reforms that should enable a better life for the citizens of BiH. Whether the negotiations will conclude with an official agreement on forming the government after the mutual meetings and talks with Hahn will be known tomorrow.