The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Deputy President of the SDP, Zukan Helez, stated that he is ready to support the formation of a broad coalition at the state level, including cooperation with the SDA, if agreements on common goals are reached.
As a guest on Federal Television’s Dnevnik D, he spoke about the post-election negotiations, the future composition of the BiH Council of Ministers, relations with previous coalition partners and the results of his mandate.
Possible coalition of SDP and SDA
Helez pointed out that the SDP wants to participate in the formation of the government, stressing that, due to the political and security challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, the gathering of a wider political bloc is necessary.
“I think we should finally create a broader, patriotic block here. We should forget some party things. The campaign was over, we said all kinds of things to each other, there were insults and low blows. I think it’s time to get serious. Our country is not exactly in an enviable situation,” said Helez.
He stressed that no pro-Bosnian party alone can successfully respond to separatist aspirations and called on political actors to overcome the conflicts from the pre-election campaign.
“I think we need to sit down and talk. It doesn’t matter who is in the position and who is the opposition, we need to talk. The four-year mandate is not more important than Bosnia and Herzegovina. We all need to stand in one front to defend the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he pointed out.
“Konaković advised me to cooperate with the SDA”
Speaking about relations with former partners from the Troika, Helez stated that he spoke with the president of NiP, Elmedin Konaković, who, as he claims, advised him to cooperate with the SDA.
“I spoke with Konaković today and he advises us to enter with the SDA, for the sake of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Helez.
When asked if this meant that Konaković would support such a coalition, he answered in the affirmative.
“They will support. And he says that this is the only salvation, to create a stable government at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina, that is, the Council of Ministers”, he stated.
Who could make up the future Council of Ministers?
Speaking about the possible composition of the future state government, Helez assessed that, according to the election results and political relations, SDA, SDP, HDZ BiH and SNSD should participate in it.
“When I look at the composition of the Presidency, which is indispensable in the formation of the Council of Ministers, and the results of the elections for the BiH Parliament, I think that there are SDA, SDP, HDZ and SNSD. I don’t think it can be otherwise. Theoretically, it can,” he said.
He explained that there is also the possibility of forming a government without the SDA, but that he does not advocate such an option.
“Now there is a majority for the SDA not to be in the Council of Ministers. The Troika, SDP, HDZ and SNSD can form the government by themselves. However, we do not want that. We want to do it the way the election results showed and for it to be for the benefit of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, emphasized Helez.
Although he previously harshly criticized Milorad Dodik, he said that he is ready to talk to all political actors if the goal is to protect the state.
“If you ask me if I would sit down with someone when it comes to the survival and defense of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I would also sit down with the black devil, as long as we can have a normal conversation. All options come into consideration, but the only goal is the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said, Federalna writes.
