Mahir Dević, a representative of the Democratic Action Party (SDA) in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, announced that this party should lead the new cantonal government, have a prime minister and coalition partners to form a new government. In an interview with BHT1, he talked about the problems that await the new administration, from air pollution and water supply to the financial situation of the Sarajevo Canton.
Dević believes that the new government will encounter serious problems, and among the priorities he singled out the lack of water in certain parts of the city, the untidiness of public areas and problems with garbage collection.
“We now have the biggest problem that the citizens of Sarajevo do not have water, that they have a dirty city and that they do not have garbage collection. These are three things that at this moment may even be called before the quality of the air,” said Dević.
He particularly criticized the current management of the water supply network, claiming that despite the spent credit, water losses have increased.
“We have a situation where people used up a loan of almost 40 million marks and today the loss in the network is ten percent higher than it was eight years ago,” said the SDA representative.
He added that Sarajevo needs professional staff, a serious reconstruction of the water supply network and continuous work in the field. Air pollution, which is repeated year after year, was singled out as one of the key problems.
According to him, solving that problem requires the coordination of the cantonal and federal authorities, along with a long-term strategy that would enable citizens to use acceptable energy sources, gas and electricity.
Dević believes that the government should also consider banning the use of certain energy sources, but with appropriate subsidies to citizens. He warned that the increase in the price of electricity could lead to citizens who have installed heat pumps turning to coal and wood again.
Budget in a possible deficit of 200 million marks
Speaking about the financial situation of the Sarajevo Canton, Dević made worrying assessments. He claims that the new government is taking over a budget with a large disparity between income and expenditure.
“We are taking over a budget that is essentially unrealistic, with some up to 300 million convertible marks in disparity between income and expenditure, and we are also taking over a budget that is probably in a deficit of 200 million convertible marks at the moment,” he said.
He announced that the new administration will first have to make a detailed analysis of the situation in the public and financial sector. At the same time, he said that the existing social benefits, allowances for maternity leave and the rights of pupils and students should not be threatened.
However, he warned that major infrastructure projects, including the construction of the First Transversal, could be slowed down due to a possible lack of money.
“Perhaps we will have money for everything, but we will somehow extend those deadlines,” said Dević, adding that only after an insight into the actual situation will we know how many projects will be possible to implement.
The SDA expects the government to be formed within the prescribed deadlines
Dević is convinced that the SDA will play a key role in the formation of authorities at various levels in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He believes that the process should be simpler this time due to more clearly prescribed deadlines and election procedures.
Regarding Canton Sarajevo, he confirmed that the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Democratic Front are expected to remain the SDA’s coalition partners.
Turning to the state level, he addressed the possibility of Milorad Dodik’s SNSD once again becoming part of the government. He assessed that, given the current political landscape, Dodik could potentially hold a controlling stake in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, which would complicate the formation of a government.
“I don’t think that will happen; the alliance between the HDZ and the SNSD is very strong, and they are unlikely to pursue a scenario that leaves Dodik out,” said Dević, while noting that, ultimately, Dodik could still end up being part of the government.
When asked about potential blockades at the state level, he did not express much optimism regarding political stability, though he believes that further complicating the situation would not be in Dodik’s own interest.
At the end of the conversation, he revealed who might be the SDA’s candidate for Prime Minister of Canton Sarajevo: Faruk Kapidžić, president of the SDA’s Cantonal Board—a candidacy that still awaits confirmation by the party’s executive board.
“It is all but certain, though it still requires confirmation by the executive board,” concluded Dević.
