Trojka from the Government of Sarajevo Canton expels ZNG: Uk resigns, SDP or NIP take over the position of Prime Minister

Written by: Amra Vrabac

The current Government of Sarajevo Canton will most likely not see its first anniversary since the reconstruction, i.e., the appointment of a new Government of Sarajevo Canton without cadres from the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entry of two ministers from the movement of Damir Marjanović For New Generations. This Government was appointed on November 15, 2023, and dissatisfaction with certain processes has escalated in the last month, making it increasingly likely that there will be a new change in the Government of Sarajevo Canton.

In the meantime, the parties and clubs of SDP and NIP have been strengthened. Thus, Redžo Lemezan moved to SDP, bringing them to seven representatives, while NIP, with its seven representatives, also has Elza Gaković, who is still registered as an independent representative.

NIP's Aljoša Čampara is close to Admela Hodžić, so the parties of the trojka, together with Gaković and Hodžić, have 20 votes. A majority no longer requires the expensive vote of Damir Marjanović, an occasional representative with permanent employment in the Republic of Croatia. However, this situation did not prevent NIP leader Elmedin Konaković from agreeing with Marjanović to take over two ministries, two important portfolios - higher education and finance - just to ensure the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina is no longer in the Government.

After the local elections, when impressions settled and most votes were counted, the trojka has a new plan for the reconstruction of the Government of Sarajevo Canton. This plan envisions that Nihad Uk can no longer be Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, and cadres from ZNG are also redundant.

The financial collapse of Sarajevo Canton is partly attributed to Finance Minister Afan Kalamujić, who inherited a budget already prepared for 2024, but who did not warn the Government of Sarajevo that unprudent financial management would soon come to a head.

The budget of Sarajevo Canton is empty, and salaries and social benefits are already delayed. Prudent management, as promised by the parties of the trojka, has remained just an empty promise.

Money was distributed lavishly, service contracts were made for all sorts of things, and least of all for the benefit of Sarajevo Canton and its citizens, while the pockets of party colleagues were being filled. Budget funds of Sarajevo Canton were used to pay for election work, to pay for the "idle time" of communications experts until their appointment to other positions, to repay debts after the General Elections, and it is logical that a collapse followed.

As soon as she became Minister of Higher Education, Adna Mesihović engaged several people under service contracts who still receive high monthly amounts. The same is the case with other ministries and the cabinet of Prime Minister Uk.

Leaders of the trojka parties are expected to hold a meeting next week to discuss the new Government of Sarajevo Canton. According to the current calculation, Naša stranka cannot retain the position of Prime Minister because it has only four representatives, while both NIP and SDP should increase the number of ministers at the expense of ZNG cadres.

It is increasingly likely that the new Prime Minister will come from SDP or NIP, depending on an agreement regarding some other positions.

The local elections, at least in Sarajevo Canton, showed the mood of citizens towards the trojka parties. SDP enjoys the greatest trust, while NIP experienced a decline, as did Naša stranka.

However, there is no room for gloating because Sarajevo Canton is in a difficult situation. All those problems that were swept under the rug have now surfaced, and these three parties must find a solution to fix what can still be fixed.

Unions are already demanding greater rights due to the rising cost of living, students are demanding better conditions in dormitories, the health sector has its needs, the education sector at all levels is also shaken by controversial decisions and moves by ministers, citizens are demanding better utility services, a clean city, regular public transport. Corruption in Sarajevo Canton continues to flourish, party cadres are being hired, young people have been cheated out of subsidies. All of this is the reality that the dormant cadres of the trojka and their leaders must face.