The resignation of the Mayor of Municipality Novi Grad Sarajevo, Semir Efendic, from the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), is another in a series of severe political blows for this party. This primarily refers to their status in the Canton Sarajevo (CS).
This local community, as one of the most populous in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), has long been a stronghold of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and then became one of the SDA’s strongholds almost ten years ago.
Efendic is among the people who have the most credit for it, since he was first elected mayor in 2012 as a young staff of this party. In each subsequent election, Efendic and his party received a large number of votes.
In the last local elections, they also managed to defeat the united opposition – SDP, People and Justice – Narod i pravda (NiP), Our Party – Nasa stranka (NS), and the Independent List of BiH (NBL), which in the meantime was transformed into the People’s European Union (NES). However, the difference in the number of votes was significantly smaller compared to the previous elections, when the opposition parties were independent.
The SDA could completely lose power in Novi Grad.
As Mayor, Efendic has a narrow majority and it is believed that the majority of councilors, (the SDA has 10 of them), are the most politically loyal to him.
Therefore, it is very likely that most or perhaps all of them will follow Efendic, who is said to be elected president of the Party for BiH (SBiH), which has not been so successful for a decade. Independent councilors who support him could do the same.
Most likely new political path of Efendic will be accepted by some SDA members, activists, and supporters not only in this local community but also in other parts of BiH, given his good reputation and influence in the party. That number will probably not be negligible. Let’s just recall what consequences the walkout of Elmedin Konakovic and his decision to form the NiP had on the SDA.
If the above-mentioned happens, then the SDA will almost certainly lose power in another municipality. They would no longer have power in any of the four local communities that make up the City of Sarajevo.
Those who are familiar with political events believe that the influential member of the Novi Grad SDA, Huso Cesir, has a significant role in the newly created political events. It is believed that Efendic would not have decided on this step without consulting him.
Efendic has not yet commented, nor has the SDA. The mayor of Novi Grad Sarajevo is expected to make a comment next week.
Another difficult political blow for the SDA
Earlier, the party lost its power in the municipalities of Centar Sarajevo, Novo Sarajevo, and Ilidza, as well as in CS and Tuzla Canton (TC).
Besides, it is under the burden of the “Respirators” affair, non-procurement of coronavirus vaccines, and other wrong moves.
It has long been known that Efendic is not satisfied with the activities of the SDA and his status in this party. He spoke about it publicly, but many were surprised not so much by the allegations that he would leave the party, but by the fact that he would be the president of SBiH which is on the political sidelines.
Amer Jerlagic resigned as SBiH president on Friday, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
