One of the main unofficial candidates of the ruling Party of Democratic Action (SDA) for the post of Bosniak member of the state tripartite Presidency, Denis Zvizdic, confirmed on Friday he gave up on the candidacy.

Zvizdic, who is currently serving as the Chairman of Bosnia’s Council of Ministers (CoM), did not explain the reason behind his decision.

“I think that a united SDA still has the strongest capacity to get its member of the Presidency,” Zvizdic said, adding that he would strongly support that candidate.

Although political parties have not unveiled the names of their candidates yet, Zvizdic’s decision made the run for the post of Bosniak member of the Presidency even more uncertain. 

SDA leader and current Bosniak member of the Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic assessed Zvizdic’s move as “disappointing.”

“He has his own stance, he is a man of strong integrity and it is not likely he will change his decision. He enjoyed the strongest support and was a favourite, he should have stayed in the run until the end,” said Izetbegovic.

Bosnian citizens will cast their vote on October 7 and will elect the members of Bosnia's tripartite Presidency, members of state and entity parliaments as well as cantonal assemblies’ members.

SDA will officially announce names of its candidates in a convention scheduled for May 26.