SDP needs a man willing to sacrifice even his own family for the party and for BiH, and I am that man

Hamdija Lipovača, one of the strongest candidates for the president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) at the upcoming Congress of this party, as can be heard from political circles, told the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP) that he does not think Zlatko Lagumdžija, the long-time first man of the party, is playing dirty when it comes to the election of his successor.

- Lagumdžija is looking for a successor who will be capable of continuing to lead the party in the right direction – says Lipovača.

The angry man from Krajina, the long-time first man of the Una-Sana Canton, has long been one of the main favorites for the president of the SDP, and he officially announced this after October 12, when the SDP suffered a debacle in the General Elections, losing about 200,000 votes and being pushed out of power.

Lipovača also visited Zagreb at the end of the week. He did not confirm whether he went to neighboring Croatia for consultations with the local SDP leaders, but it is very likely that he is also seeking support from the neighbors, who, insiders claim, will support him at the Congress of the SDP BiH.

- Zlatko Lagumdžija is aware that he can no longer be part of the game, and that is good and clear to everyone, and I think Lagumdžija is also clear about that. But it is not easy to just watch the party be left in the hands of just anyone. Especially not in the hands of someone with a somewhat more unstable character, who in any turbulent situations would not be ready to put the interest of the SDP and Bosnia and Herzegovina even before the interests of his own family. Only such a man can lead the SDP. I am absolutely sure that Lagumdžija is also thinking in that direction – says Lipovača.

When asked whether the SDP has a politician willing to sacrifice his own interests for the sake of the party, Lipovača said that he is that man.

- During the biggest demonstrations in February, I stood in front of the demonstrators, I did not run away! I did not run away during the floods either, nor when my removal was orchestrated! I showed that the interest of the party and the interest of the state come first!

He did not want to say much about potential rivals, except to rule out the possibility that the top position in the SDP would be taken by Denis Bećirović, who is often mentioned as Lagumdžija's successor.

- He did not have the courage to appear as the SDP candidate for the member of the BiH Presidency. After we lost the elections, he did not come to a single session of the party's Presidency. So how can we entrust the party, our child, our country to such a man – says Lipovača, NAP reports.