The 'Trojka' is losing voters and reputation through its own mistakes, Konaković, Nikšić, and Forto can no longer extinguish 'local fires'

By Amra Vrabac

A new session of the Centar Municipal Council is expected to be held next week, where the request of Mayor Srđan Mandić to reconsider the decision on his recall, which was voted on by 18 councilors at the Centar Municipal Council session on Thursday, will be discussed. Although Mandić, as he says, is shocked by this initiative, he quickly composed himself and even consulted with the president of NIP, Elmedin Konaković, whose nine councilors signed the initiative for recall along with seven other councilors, and submitted a request for 'reconsideration'.

NIP councilor in the Centar Municipal Council, Jasmin Ademović, whom Mandić accused of being the main initiator of the recall and wanting to take over the mayoral position, rejected the mayor's claims and stated that Mandić is lazy and will not back down. Numerous reactions followed over the past two days. Mandić was supported by the presidents of Our Party and SDP, Edin Forto and Nermin Nikšić, and Mandić claims that his comrade Konaković also supported him. However, there was no public statement from the NIP leader on this topic. Party bodies did discuss it, but there is no backing down from the recall. That would be the brief epilogue of a long meeting.

Ademović stated in an appearance on Face TV that councilors are facing pressure, and he is facing media discreditation. He claims that this recall is the culmination of Mandić's inaction and that citizens are dissatisfied.

He points out that NIP is most responsible for Mandić's victory, but they must defend the principles of the 'Trojka' and that the agreement is to discuss problems. Although the idea of recalling Mandić existed last year, Konaković suppressed it then to avoid consequences for the 'Trojka's' results in the General Elections.

“We are now in power and should criticize the cadres we have promoted. We should not go back to the past and blame SDA, DF. If any of our directors are not performing well, they should be replaced. How many directors has the 'Trojka' replaced? As far as I know, none. This is not a good process; we need to replace people who are not doing their jobs well. We said we would be consistent and change things from the ground up. What have we changed in the municipality of Centar? Absolutely nothing. To improve, criticism is also needed,” Ademović specified.

Speaking about the meeting they had within the party with President Konaković, Ademović said that he is accountable to the citizens who elected him and that the NIP president cannot change the decision, which is also clearly stated in the Statute of Narod i Pravda.

“I am sure that Mandić will be recalled in a referendum. He is one of the worst mayors in KS. Just compare the capital projects of the mayors of Ilidža and Centar,” said Ademović, who is aware of the pressure on the councilors who signed the recall initiative.

“I won't say now that Mandić and the leaders of other parties won't get involved and discourage other councilors and try to buy votes. I will insist that this referendum happens, and everything has been done in accordance with the procedures,” Ademović said.

For example, in the Novi Grad Municipal Council, the majority is currently slim, but due to the work and activities of Mayor Semir Efendić, no one is even mentioning a recall, even though NIP has as many as nine councilors in Novi Grad.

The recall of the Mayor of Stari Grad, Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, occurred due to his arrest and detention, which motivated the councilors to dismiss Hadžibajrić.

Problems have existed almost from the very beginning of the mandate in Novi Sarajevo as well, but the recall of Hasan Tanović is not likely because, at this moment, there are not 16 councilors who could sign that initiative. However, it is clearly visible from the sessions themselves, which last all day and deep into the night, that there are many problems in the functioning of the Municipal Council and cooperation with the mayor.

The opening of the recall season for mayors in the Sarajevo Canton, and the conflicts within the 'Trojka' parties just a year before the local elections, could cause the most damage to the 'Trojka' parties themselves. While efforts are being made at higher levels to 'falsely' show unity, local levels are falling apart.

Forto, Nikšić, and Konaković hold positions that are too important to be dealing with local fires. They are fighting battles with Dragan Čović and Milorad Dodik. However, even that is not going well for them. The dissatisfaction of their membership and voters is evident and will only grow.

The reconstruction of the KS Government is another hot potato in the hands of the 'Trojka'. The political bargaining they agreed to with deputies Damir Marjanović, Redžo Lemezan, and Admel Hodžić to oust the Party of Social Democratic Action, is now coming to the surface. Only a few are talking about the trading of positions, rigged competitions with predetermined candidates, and illegal government decisions regarding appointments.

Instead of the changes they promised and the fight against corruption, the 'Trojka' parties have entered a vicious cycle for which they blamed SDA for years. It is no wonder that even the 'Trojka's' voters are increasingly saying 'give us back SDA' when looking at the personnel policies of the parties, the directors of public enterprises, especially those on which municipalities depend, such as public cleanliness, waste disposal, park and green space maintenance, and water supply.