Reactions from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and People and Justice (NiP) following yesterday’s resignation of Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad Uk (Our Party) ,which led to the fall of the entire Sarajevo Canton government, suggest that the move had not been coordinated at the coalition level.
Uk resigned amid mounting public pressure, as citizens have been protesting for four consecutive days, demanding both criminal and political accountability after a tragic tram accident in which student Erdoan Morankić was killed and four others were injured, including Ella Jovanović, who sustained serious injuries.
Uk’s resignation was met with a degree of public approval, while also signaling a distancing from his partners within the Troika coalition. Messages circulated describing the move as responsible and suggesting it could mark the beginning of a new political culture in which resignations based on political responsibility become standard practice.
It is widely known that relations within the Troika, particularly in Sarajevo Canton , have been strained in recent years, with numerous internal disputes. However, the coalition had maintained at least the appearance of functionality. With Uk’smove, Our Party appears to be the first to take a step indicating political distancing from the Troika, at least in Sarajevo.
The coming period is likely to be marked by strategic positioning ahead of the next elections. Our Party has already begun signaling opposition-style moves. This morning, it reposted on social media a criminal complaint filed in 2022, when Edin Forto was Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton. At the time, more than 40 criminal complaints were submitted over the situation in GRAS.
Notably, Our Party was part of the government both before and after 2022, yet little public attention had been given to those complaints in recent years. Now, following Uk’s resignation, the party appears to be shifting into opposition mode, even though it technically remains in power in Sarajevo in a caretaker capacity, and continues to be part of the government at both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and state levels.
In theory, the current government could remain in caretaker status until the elections, as forming a new government in Sarajevo requires a new majority in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly. However, it appears unlikely that the Troika parties, independent representatives, or the opposition will reach an agreement on a new majority. In other words, it is difficult to expect anyone to assume the post of prime minister just eight months before elections.
What is certain is that this move by Our Party will significantly shape its future relations with the SDP and NiP. The party is clearly moving toward a more oppositional stance, a shift that is becoming visible at the state level as well, Klix.ba writes.
