The political conflict over the Gradiška Border Crossing has once again opened up space for harsh rhetoric from the Republika Srpska, in which insults and ethnic qualifications have overshadowed the institutional debate. The focus is on messages that further deepen divisions in BiH and reactions from the Federation that call such rhetoric hate speech.
Harsh political rhetoric
The political mathematics of the SNSD, long tried and tested, repeated for who knows how many times. The rule is very simple – instead of concrete arguments, an attack on the national and religious identity of the opponent.
The culprit on duty is easy to find and label. Sometimes it is “political Sarajevo”, sometimes the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and very often individuals. In this episode of political patriotism by State Minister Srđan Amidžić, due to disagreements over the Gradiška Border Crossing, a member of the Board of Directors of the Indirect Taxation Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zijad Krnjić, came under attack.
Srđan Amidžić, Minister of Finance and Treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SNSD), made a number of offensive and controversial claims in his speech.
“A large number of Bosniaks live in the Federation, but there are also many Muslims, and Zijad Krnjić is an ordinary Muslim who punishes the Serbian, Bosniak and Croat people and who sees the Serbs as in World War II. This is a place of hatred of political Sarajevo towards the RS and proof that Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot function. This is not a normal country, it has no future. What kind of Europe? We need to be moved continentally to Africa, and in Africa they would throw us out,” Amidžić said.
Krnjić’s response
Krnjić did not enter the debate. His position is clear, however – Amidžić’s performance speaks for itself.
“Amidžić is showing his true colors. These are chauvinistic and Islamophobic statements and insults on a national basis, which is his reach. The public needs to see who he is and I have nothing more to add on this topic,” said Krnjić.
Political messages from the RS
In parallel with his party colleague, from the same political address, we did not wait long for Milorad Dodik’s position and a new story about “two worlds” and politics from the Federation as the main problem of the state. Paradoxically, from those who have been creating crises and blockades for years.
“With the blockades, representatives from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are showing how different the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are. This shows that we are two worlds. We are not just politically different, but we are in a serious civilizational misunderstanding with those from Sarajevo,” said Dodik.
Reactions from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Srđan Amidžić’s speech did not go unnoticed in the Federation either. The message is clear – political conflict cannot be an excuse for public humiliation based on religion and identity.
Sabina Ćudić, president of Our Party, stressed that this is unacceptable speech.
“Srđan Amidžić’s speech is a direct attack on the dignity of citizens and the constitutional order of the state. Islamophobic and fascist attitudes cannot hide the fact that Bosniaks and Muslims do not mind him when he is financed with their money. However, when the unequal distribution of income is denied, he resorts to outbursts of hatred and anger,” said Ćudić.
Denis Zvizdić, deputy chairman of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, assessed that such rhetoric poses a serious problem.
“Such anti-civilizational rhetoric is not a political stance – it is hate speech, abuse of public office and a direct attack on the fundamental values of a democratic society. The fact that a state minister publicly uses religious identity as a means of discrediting and targeting political dissenters is particularly worrying,” Zvizdić pointed out.
“The chauvinistic and Islamophobic statement by Srđan Amidžić confirms that the authorities of the RS entity have no reasonable argument to hide the fact that for almost three years they have been stealing money belonging to the Federation of BiH and that with such theft they are patching up the dilapidated system that they have produced with their disastrous rule,” the SDA said.
