KS Government's Resignation a Bitter Pill for the "Trojka": Not Even Seeking New PM and Ministers, Will They Remain in Technical Mandate Until Elections?

(Patria) - Ahead of the KS Assembly session held on Friday, March 6, the president of Our Party, Sabina Ćudić, gathered the president and representatives of the other two coalition partners, NIP and SDP, at Our Party's premises.

Turbulence in relations arose after the sudden resignation of Nihad Uk on February 15, which led to the resignation of the entire KS Government. Uk did this three days after a tragic tram accident in which 23-year-old Erdoan Morankić lost his life and a 17-year-old girl suffered serious injuries. Uk stated that he felt moral and political responsibility and that he had heeded the demands of the youth who had been protesting in the streets of Sarajevo for days after the accident. The president of Our Party was also present at those protests.

Meanwhile, the SDP did not hide their anger over Uk's move, even announcing a new KS Government or some new majority. Such a scenario was announced precisely by the head of the SDP Sarajevo KO and KS Minister of Transport, Adnan Šteta. Although he was the first to offer his resignation on the day of the accident, as he claims, he was prevented from doing so by both the Prime Minister and the ministers, and then Uk, without consultation, put the KS Government in an unenviable position.

After the briefing at Sabina Ćudić's, which according to her claims was "long, at times difficult, but ultimately productive and collegial" but with the conclusion that their cooperation and the "Trojka" have no alternative, the SDP clearly changed its stance. Elmedin Konaković, Elvedin Okerić, Nermin Muzur, Adnan Delić, Adnan Šteta, Kenan Magoda, Edis Dervišagić, Vibor Handžić, and Vildana Bešlija attended yesterday's meeting.

Thus, at today's press conference of the SDP BiH Club in the KS Assembly, the position was presented that they support the work of the SDP ministers and that they will continue to do their job in a technical mandate until the last day.

“As far as we are concerned, if there is a majority, if there are people who would accept to hold positions for four or five months, it is the entire government that should accept the position of minister. It is very difficult to realistically find people who would agree to be ministers for such a short period, should they leave their jobs to be ministers for four or five months. But if a parliamentary majority and those people are found, we have nothing against a new government being appointed, but it is not a process that happens overnight and that ministers, especially experts, are found on the street,” said Davor Čičić.

In translation, this means that the "Trojka" parties did not even seek new people, let alone experts, but will stick to the technical mandate.

Given Nihad Uk's resignation, Our Party deputies have no other option but to vote for the dismissal. But all that happens afterwards, the responsibility will be borne precisely by the government in technical mandate and the leaders of the "Trojka" parties. Although Nihad Uk said that he is withdrawing from political life until October and that he no longer wants to be prime minister, it seems that Ćudić and the other partners are deciding on this, not Uk himself. Therefore, the coming days will show who is engaged in politics, who is engaged in populism, and who is lying to the citizens of Sarajevo Canton.

In the current constellation of forces in the KS Assembly, SDP BiH has seven deputies, which is the most among the "Trojka" parties. NIP has five deputies, and Our Party has four. So, if Uk were to truly withdraw by October, one of the SDP cadres would have to take on the role of prime minister. At this moment, even within the "Trojka," they do not know how to proceed.

It should not be forgotten that the election results are awaited for at least a month, and then the formation of the KS Assembly follows, discussions about forming the government, which means that the "technical" KS Government could remain until the end of the year, if not longer.