The president of the SDA, Bakir Izetbegovic, said at a panel in Maglaj that his party, in the next eight to ten years, promises the doubling of wages and pensions, emphasizing that, despite numerous resistances, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has achieved significant progress in the past decades and that it is time for a new economic step forward.
At the “Edhem Mulabdic” Cultural Center in Maglaj, on the occasion of BiH’s Statehood Day, a panel “Homeland in the Heart – Responsibility in Action” was held, organized by the Municipal Organization of SDA Maglaj.
President Izetbegovic addressed those present at the panel, and responding to questions from the program host, emphasized that the success made in BiH after the aggression is measured also on the basis of the resistance it faced.
“If it hadn’t been for ZAVNOBiH, there would not later have been the independence of BiH. It was not perfect. Above all, it did not sufficiently recognize our people. There were always those who counted on the idea that time would exhaust us and that in the end, this country would be divided. Through the decision on independence, the next major step was made, but we received an answer in the form of aggression. They did not manage to win, and they did not manage to divide BiH. What followed was the miracle of BiH resistance. The Dayton Peace Agreement was not perfect, but we improved it further. The Republika Srpska (RS) had its own army, its own border service, its own intelligence service, its own indirect taxation service… It is not the same to walk on a plain, a clean road that is not bumpy, and to walk uphill on a gravel road while two people hinder you and slow down that road. That is exactly how we have been moving in the past 35 years. We invested enormous effort, and I think that, taking those resistances into account, we have done a great job. Despite everything, we are moving forward,” said Izetbegovic.
Speaking about the role of young people in the SDA and in politics in general, Izetbegovic pointed to the mayor of the Municipality of Maglaj, Maid Suljakovic, who, as he said, is the peer of the SDA’s first victory in 1990.
“I personally made an effort to open up space for young people in the SDA. In the SDA Presidency, I created two positions for those under 35. Of course, young people will, with age, become wiser and more experienced. Especially in politics. However, young people also bring new energy. They are the future; the perspective lies with them. It is up to us to transfer knowledge to them. Young people will therefore always get a chance in the SDA,” said Izetbegovic.
Answering a question about the next General Elections and political processes after the elections, Izetbegovic said that the leading party will take responsibility and appoint staff to the most responsible positions.
“The task of the future federal prime minister will be to continue the good work that Fadil Novalic did. When his Government was formed in 2015, I promised that in the next ten years we would create 100.000 jobs. At that time, various journalists and analysts competed to ridicule my statement. And it did not happen as I promised, because we created 100.000 jobs in six years. That made it possible for a sick Federation, the one Niksic left to Novalic, to recover. He made all economic parameters positive. Our goal will be the end of poverty and a better life for citizens. At this moment, an average salary in the Federation of BiH (FBiH) covers only 50 percent of the consumer basket. In five years, I want that to improve by 50 percent, in ten years by 100 percent. We promise double wages in eight to ten years, double pensions in eight to ten years. SDA can do that,” said Izetbegovic.
It should be emphasized that ten years ago, in November 2015, the average net salary in the FBiH amounted to 827 BAM, while the same for September of this year amounted to 1.603 BAM.
The average pension in November 2015 amounted to 366 BAM, while today it is 761 BAM.
He added that the most devastated parts of BiH after the aggression were those in which Bosniaks are the majority, and that these parts are today the most successful, which is, as he said, confirmation of ability and knowledge.
Speaking about the SDA’s proposal for the Law on Proportional Representation, Izetbegovic said that those who strive for domination and apartheid oppose that law.
“If you let yourself rely on someone to give you your rights, you will not get it. When you try to rise from that position, they will shout that you strive for domination. The law is a tool that implements the Constitution, and the Constitution is clear. The entire structure of government must be in accordance with the structure of the population. We must create a tool with sanctions that will punish those who do not implement this,” said Izetbegovic.
In concluding his address, Izetbegovic emphasized the importance of unity, which is undermined by the actions of foreign centers of power and intelligence services.
“It is up to us to be like a father in the house, to forgive some bad things, but not forget them, and to unite. This country has two serious problems. One is the attack on its constitutional and legal order, and that is the smaller problem. Those who carry out that attack exhaust themselves. Citizens of the RS entity live much worse compared to the citizens of the FBiH. There, we need unity in a pro-Bosnian bloc. We must create a strong bloc that will not allow the virus of division to be inserted among us. The second, bigger problem, which is difficult to cure, is population aging. Young people are leaving, finding employment where it is safer, where the salary is higher. We are not being born enough. We are slowly becoming a country of old people. That is why it is a harder disease to solve. We need that strong, united pro-Bosnian bloc and the diaspora. Half of the strength, our vitality, our young and capable people, have left BiH. They are scattered around the world. That is an enormous strength. Our people in the diaspora can change the direction of the country. We do not have oil or diamonds, but we have people. We had fighters who defended the country. Now we have businessmen, people who have grown up in difficult circumstances and who need our support. We need infrastructure to connect better by road. If we combine all that strength, we can do it,” concluded Izetbegovic.
Also addressing the panel were the president of the SDA Cantonal Organization of Zenica-Doboj Canton (ZDC), Nermin Mandra, the president of the SDA Municipal Organization Maglaj, Enes Sejmenovic, the ZDC prime minister, Nezir Pivic, and the mayor of the Municipality of Maglaj, Maid Suljakovic.
Before the panel, Izetbegovic met with members of the Executive Board of the SDA Municipal Organization Maglaj, and laid flowers and recited Al-Fatiha at the Central Memorial to the martyrs and fallen fighters, Klix.ba writes.
