Marathon session of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly. The proposed resignation of Canton Sarajevo Prime Minister Nihad Uk caused a quarrel between the ruling party and the opposition. The atmosphere at the session is on the verge of an incident.
A heated debate was held from the beginning of the session. The opposition clubs requested to change the agenda in order to discuss only the resignation of the Prime Minister and the dismissal of the CS Government. Such a proposal did not receive the necessary support. The opposition accused the resigning Prime Minister Nihad Uko that the resignation was just a farce and that the Government had no intention of resigning. Haris Zahiragić briefly left the session, after having a heated argument with the Minister of Internal Affairs, Admir Katica, and the Speaker of the Assembly, Elvedin Okerić.
Haris Zahiragic, deputy of the SDA in the KS Assembly: “This is, first of all, an action to save Adnan Šteta, a man who spent hundreds of millions of BAM, hid contracts, overpaid BS Telecom and other SDP companies, personally enriched himself on that and did not find it suitable to come to the session. These ministers should not stay, that is among other things the demand of those big protests. They are completely censoring it. They are pretending that it does not exist. They are bringing us nine laws that these same ministers proposed that we draft now, and that in form.”
Muamer Bandic, representative of the SBiH in the KS Assembly: “It is politically absurd that you resign, and then propose six laws in the same session. It is quite clear that this intention is not expressed in a way that the Prime Minister of the Uk resigns and ends his working relationship, which is feasible. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister of the Uk will probably remain until the appointment of a new government, that is, until October and the elections”.
Explaining his decision, Nihad Uk said that there is a moment in politics when function must be less important than responsibility. The Chairman of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, Elvedin Okerić, addressed the public regarding the events at the Assembly session, accusing the opposition of destructive behavior, populism and an attempt to destabilize the political and security system in the Sarajevo Canton. Speaking about the appointment of a new government, Okerić stressed that the current government, although resigned, must continue to work until a new one is appointed.
NIHAD UK, the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton resigned
“When I had to choose between staying in office and the need to send a clear message that the government must listen to the citizens, my choice was clear and that’s why I resigned.”
ELVEDIN OKERIĆ, chairman of the CS Assembly
“The Law on the Government of the Sarajevo Canton says the following, that when the Prime Minister resigns, the entire Government of the Canton resigns. However, the legislative and executive authorities cannot do it in such a short time as the opposition expects and they are aware that it is impossible to do it. However, they are deliberately creating chaos and crisis”.
Let us remind you that Nihad Uk resigned as an act of assuming political responsibility, after the fatal tram accident on February 12. There is a possibility to form a new convocation of the Government, and who can be in the new convocation depends on who will have the parliamentary majority. The “troika” with independent MPs has so far had a majority, which requires a minimum of 18 mandates. The current convocation can remain in the technical mandate until the General Elections, which should be held in October this year.
