SDA: Full support for Banovići Mayor Bego Gutić, stop legal and physical violence orchestrated by PDA

(Patria) - SDA gives full support to the Mayor of Banovići Municipality Bego Gutić and the SDA Municipal Board Banovići and condemns attempts by the PDA, led by a man from the "black list" Mirsad Kukić, to take over power in this municipality through legal and physical violence.

Given that the PDA has announced that on Monday they will forcibly enter the Banovići Municipality building and take over the premises of the Municipal Council, we call on the competent institutions in Tuzla Canton to react in an adequate manner and ensure the normal and lawful functioning of the local government, and prevent unpleasant scenes.

Also, we call on the judicial institutions, in accordance with the recent amendments to the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to conduct an investigation into the transfer of councilors to the ranks of the PDA, because there are very well-founded suspicions that the criminal offense of influence peddling was committed on that occasion.

After obtaining a majority in a suspicious manner, the PDA is trying to carry out legal violence and threatens physical violence, violating procedures and attempting to form a Commission for the implementation of the recall of the mayor in which there would be no representatives of the SDA. This is acting contrary to the Statute of the Municipality, which stipulates that political parties must be represented in permanent and temporary working bodies in accordance with the election result.

Impatient to wait until August 11, when a regular session of the Banovići Municipal Council is scheduled, the PDA is trying to take over power with arrogance and violence. We warn them not to do so and not to create additional tensions, which could lead to unwanted consequences. Instead, we call on them to make all decisions, including the decision on the recall of the municipal mayor, at the regular session of the Municipal Council scheduled for August 11, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Council and the Statute of the Municipality.

SDA is not afraid of such a decision, a possible referendum or new elections, because it is convinced that Mayor Bego Gutić, as one of the most successful mayors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will receive the support of the citizens of Banovići.

Gutić and the SDA Municipal Board have revived Banovići in every respect, freed this municipality from uniformity, dictatorship and tyranny, and contributed to economic and commercial development. This is evidenced by data showing that in Banovići, an average of 37 new businesses are started annually, and that in 2022 alone, the number of employees increased by 900. During Mayor Gutić's term, a record budget execution of over 12 million KM was achieved, and last year alone, 37 capital projects were realized from these funds.