Zagreb’s mayor Milan Bandic has on Saturday expressed support for the leader of Bosnia’s Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH), Dragan Covic, ahead of the October election in the country, urging Croats in Bosnia to vote for him so he can pursue their interests in Bosnia.

“A leader like Covic is needed not only by Croats but by Bosnia and Herzegovina and its path toward the EU,” Bandic said after a meeting with Covic.  

Croat unity is a precondition for Bosnia’s multiculturalism and Dragan Covic seals this unity, he added.

Croatian actors Ivo Gregurevic, Ivan Herceg and Slaven Knezovic have previously endorsed Covic who is running for the seat of the Croat member of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency.

His challengers are Dijana Zelenika from the HDZ 1990, pro-Bosnian politician Zeljko Komsic from the Democratic Front, Borisa Falatar from Nasa Stranka (Our Party) and Jerko Ivankovic Lijanovic from the People’s Party for Work and Betterment.