SDA from Democracy to Autocracy: Not Just Bakir!

Disagreements and mistrust within the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) have culminated to the extent that party leader Bakir Izetbegović increasingly conducts inter-party negotiations alone, writes the Patria news agency.

This has happened twice in just the last month: Izetbegović sat alone at the negotiation table in the BiH Presidency building on July 31 this year, when he brought small parties BPS-Sefer Halilović, A-SDA, and SBiH into the government!

Although it was an important meeting, at which a parliamentary majority in the Federation of BiH had to be secured at all costs due to the new Labor Law, Izetbegović decided to talk with party delegations alone.

Izetbegović again sat at the negotiation table without his party colleagues with Amer Jerlagić less than 15 days after the formation of the parliamentary majority in the Federation, when SBiH announced its withdrawal from the coalition because the promised energy sector was abruptly given to someone else.

What happened?! Why is a political party that has held the title of the most democratic party in BiH for more than two decades rapidly transforming into a party where power is centralized, transitioning from a two-decade phase of democracy to autocracy?!

Good connoisseurs of the situation in SDA claim that Izetbegović is under strong pressure from several party members who, with his help, want to take control - first of the party, and then of the largest part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. These are Asim Sarajlić, Amir Zukić, and Aljoša Čampara. The first is the party's vice-president, the second is the SDA's general secretary, and the third is the federal Minister of Internal Affairs.

The trio wants to isolate Izetbegović at all costs from the rest of the party leadership, which advocates for changes and reforms, not only within the party but also in society. At meetings, he only presents views that Čampara and his crew have dictated to him, and which he has memorized.

Weakened in this way, Izetbegović will soon become their prey. But he does not see it. He will be replaced, according to well-informed sources, by the state Prime Minister Denis Zvizdić, after which the collapse of not only SDA but also the plunder of the little remaining state property would continue.

The founder of the party himself, the late Alija Izetbegović, admitted in an interview available on YouTube that his associates often "shout at him." But he does not resent them. On the contrary, he often accepts their opinions. Sometimes even against his will.

During the time of the late Sulejman Tihić, several party colleagues also sat with him at the negotiation table with other political parties, even though Tihić was said to be one of the most skilled negotiators on the political scene in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tihić was also an extremely pragmatic politician, and he rewarded all those who were against him at the 2009 Congress with certain positions. He also nominated his opponent, Bakir Izetbegović, for the position of SDA vice-president at the time.

Unlike Tihić, Izetbegović, who is merely a puppet in the hands of SDA political vultures, drives away all that is valuable and disrupts the plans of his think tank led by Čampara.

Since May 26 this year, after the party congress where he was elected president, Bakir Izetbegović has been changing his behavior - he prefers to manage the party alone! Without the opinions of experienced party colleagues! Or perhaps it only seems so. Maybe he draws advice from outside the party.

From some other people. Perhaps from members of his own family, primarily his wife. She, although quite ambitious, is not suited for politics. But she gets along very well with Čampara and Zvizdić.