Zalihić: Hard to figure out why NS gave up, Salem Marić should return his mandate

(Patria) - Arman Zalihić, SDP councilor in the Mostar City Council, commented on Facebook about the election of the Mayor of Mostar, the "rotating model", the elected Kordić, and Salem Marić.

"Behind us is a turbulent period in which the Mayor of Mostar was elected. As the OHR, with its decision to abolish the majority councilor majority during his election, significantly devalued 'abstention', even though we were fully aware that our decision - whatever it may be, would cause certain repercussions, we made a political stance based on which we voted.

We remained persistent on the platform of the so-called 'rotating model', which we offered not only to the Coalition for Mostar but also to the HDZ, primarily because this way the BH bloc, as the only factor uniting the city, would have a mayor for the first time since the war, even if only for 1/3 of the mandate.

It is hard to figure out why our partners, practically at the last moment, gave up on that model, knowing that they themselves presented it to the SDA. But there is no use crying over spilled milk, so the SDP will not further debate this issue.

The proposed model did not come to life, and it is likely that we will again have two zones of interest in Mostar. Thus, the (illegitimate) President of the Council will "reign supreme" until HIT, leaving the area from HIT to his HDZ partners. The SDP will not participate in such a government, nor will it appoint directors of any public institution or company.

By proposing concrete solutions aimed at improving the quality of life of our citizens, we will strive to be the most active Club in the Council. The focus of our work will not be populism, but exclusively important topics, primarily the transparency of the city administration and communal-infrastructure issues.

Hoping that he will remain as I knew him and that he will know, want, and be able to resist the longest-standing political nexus of crime and corruption in these areas (between Mostar's HDZ-SDA tycoons and political power brokers), I take this opportunity to most sincerely congratulate the newly elected mayor Mario Kordić. If he remains unwavering and persistent on that path, I will publicly express all possible support and assistance to him.

Finally, I would like to remind the illegitimate President of the Council, Mr. Salem Marić, who, if all ballot boxes had been checked, probably would not have even taken a seat in the council, to keep his public promise - to resign and return his mandate," said Zalihić.