SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic yesterday commented in an interview on the current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the relationship between Milorad Dodik and the judiciary, and potential partnerships for the 2026 elections. Izetbegovic repeated several times that Milorad Dodik must not remain in the political life of BiH, otherwise “things will not end well.”
After Dodik, Viskovic, and Stevandic came to the Court of BiH. Detention measures lifted, precautionary measures imposed?
“I think the state has been humiliated, all those who love the state of BiH have been humiliated by this. People should be equal before the law. When you do what they did, you should be held accountable, not amnestied. They are practically leading us toward conflict. If Dodik stays in politics, things will not end well in BiH. This leniency leads in that direction,” said Izetbegovic, and added:
“A few days ago, Dodik said in Nevesinje that he will build Serbia in BiH. Before that, he said the same in Kosovska Mitrovica, a few months ago. These are dangerous things.”
“Zigzag line, but he gains ground each time”
Izetbegovic says that Dodik changes his mind every day, but each time, “he gains ground in his favor.”
“One day Dodik says one thing, then another, but when we look at that zigzag line, how he retreats, then comes back, but each time he gains some ground. We have two processes: one due to opposing the decisions of the high representative, and the other regarding the ban on the work of state institutions.”
Can Dodik avoid a second-instance verdict?
“We will see. He denies, then accepts. Says he won’t, then he will, but things are moving in a direction that he’s interested in. If Dodik is not removed from politics, if he is not completely banned from political activity, BiH will be defeated. We will move in a direction whose outcome I cannot foresee,” said Izetbegovic.
“Young people are coming, for a time, it may seem like he’s controlling something, but politicians continue to fight among themselves. Marine Le Pen removed her father. Angela Merkel removed Helmut Kohl. That’s how it is with politicians,” he emphasized.
“The international community and BiH judiciary”
Bakir Izetbegovic says that there was no courage to decisively oppose Dodik.
“There was not enough courage to decisively oppose him, from both the international community and the judiciary of BiH. The man violated the laws, and at the same time, blocked economic development and processes. He caused young people to emigrate. The damage caused by these policies cannot even be calculated.”
“Of course, Dodik has his foundations – in nationalisms and fears of others’ domination, in the desire for one people to dominate or to complete war plans that culminated in genocide thirty years ago. There is that dark energy he represents,” added the SDA leader.
Did you know the outcome of the verdict?
“I didn’t know the first time, nor do I know now. I just fear they’ll go easy on him. I assumed they wouldn’t imprison him and make a hero out of him, but banning him from political activity is a completely logical thing. Either Milorad Dodik and his policies will be defeated, or BiH will,” said Izetbegovic.
He also said that no one has ever witnessed practices like the ones Dodik is carrying out.
“We heard the head of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) say that for a month, he was regularly informed that efforts were underway to bring Dodik to the Court. No one has witnessed or seen such practices. Who has had Dodik, except us until now? That should be asked of the people who brought him here, who guaranteed him something. What else have they promised him?” he emphasized for N1.
