SDA Sarajevo: After tram accident, silence, who runs the canton?

(Patria) - The Cantonal Board of the Party of Democratic Action Sarajevo (KO SDA Sarajevo) has issued a new statement in which they raise the question of responsibility after the serious tram accident that occurred in Sarajevo three months ago. SDA states that, despite the passage of time, the public has still not received complete answers about the circumstances and causes of the accident, nor have there been any serious political or institutional consequences.

According to their statements, the entire case, as they claim, has remained without a clear epilogue, while the system continues to behave as if nothing significant has happened.

Political Responsibility

In the statement, KO SDA Sarajevo emphasizes that after the tragedy, there has been no real reconstruction of responsibility within the institutions. They point out that key actors remain in the same positions, while political responsibility, in their assessment, is being avoided or postponed.

“Three months after the tragic tram accident in Sarajevo, the public still lacks complete and clear answers about the causes of the tragedy. There is no political responsibility, no serious system reconstruction, not even a basic sense of urgency. Instead, citizens are witnessing continued political improvisation and a calculated effort to relativize or drag out responsibility indefinitely.”

SDA further states that in practice, there has been no change in the leadership of key sectors, and that responsibility is formally mentioned, but without concrete consequences.

“The director of GRAS remains the director. The Minister of Transport Adnan Šteta remains the minister. Prime Minister Nihad Uk resigns, but the Government continues to operate in a technical mandate, without a new political agreement and without a real reconstruction of the executive power.”

Internal Disagreements

In the continuation of the statement, KO SDA Sarajevo also addresses the relations within the ruling coalition, stating that information has appeared in the public that, according to their interpretation, confirms earlier claims about the lack of political will for change.

“These days, the president of Our Party, Sabina Ćudić, has practically confirmed what KO SDA Sarajevo has been warning about from the beginning. Namely, within the ruling majority, there was no political will to make a serious cut after the tragedy. According to her, Our Party requested the appointment of new ministers and a reconstruction of the Government, but this was rejected by NIP and SDP, i.e., Elmedin Konaković and Adnan Šteta.”

SDA believes that such a development changes the political picture of the entire case and further raises questions about the decision-making process within the government.

“This completely changes the political context of the entire case. It is, therefore, a conscious political decision not to open the question of full responsibility and real change of people who have been running the system for years. In the case of Minister Šteta, it is almost eight years.”

Question of Legitimacy and Responsibility of the Executive Power

In the final part of the statement, KO SDA Sarajevo problematizes the concept of political and moral responsibility, and raises the question of the real functioning of the government in Sarajevo Canton under the current circumstances.

“Today, it is completely inappropriate to talk about the ‘moral act’ of the resigning prime minister. Moral responsibility without real political responsibility remains only a symbolic gesture without substantial consequences.”

It is further criticized that, as they state, the existing government shifts part of the responsibility to the opposition, although, according to their position, it is precisely the current majority that manages the institutions.

“It is even more paradoxical that the resigning prime minister calls on the opposition to form a new Government, while the existing majority has been rejecting the possibility of forming a new executive power for months. This is an attempt to shift the burden of the political crisis to the opposition. Although it is clear to everyone that those who manage the institutions, public enterprises, and sectors are responsible for the situation in Sarajevo Canton.”

At the end of the statement, SDA poses a series of questions that, as they state, remain unanswered and directly concern citizens.

“Therefore, citizens have the right to ask several simple questions: How is it possible that even after three months there is no full truth about the causes of the accident?

What is the meaning of ‘moral responsibility’ if the system and the people in it remain the same?

Finally, who is truly running Sarajevo Canton today while the Government operates in a technical mandate and without clear political legitimacy?”

They conclude that, in their assessment, this is not just about one incident, but about a broader pattern of political action.

“And, this is not just about one accident that is merely the tip of the iceberg. It is about the way the government behaves and their understanding of democracy as a buffet: a tragedy occurs, the public is shocked for a few days, politicians talk about responsibility, and then the system continues to function unchanged.”

The statement concludes with a message in which SDA appeals to the responsibility of those in power.

“Gentlemen in power, this is a matter of political responsibility, institutional seriousness, and the government's attitude towards citizens and human life as such.”