I feel personally responsible for the no-confidence vote to the government of Sarajevo Canton and I was thinking about it the entire day today, the leader of Sarajevo Canton's opposition and the People and Justice Party (NiP), Elmedin Konakovic told N1's Amir Zukic during Wednesday night interview.
“This was much harder for me than the time when the Democratic Action Party (SDA) dismissed me (from the function of Canton Sarajevo's Assembly Speaker) because our concept guaranteed a better life in Bosnia. I'm still not entirely clear with myself whether I could have done something more to make this government remain in power,” Konakovic said, adding that the ministers who were dismissed on Wednesday afternoon did an excellent job.
Sarajevo Canton's government had lost the confidence vote in the Assembly, on Wednesday, with 18 votes in favour of their dismissal and 15 against.
The new majority is made up of the Democratic Action Party (SDA), Alliance for a Better Future (SBB) and Democratic Front (DF), while the outgoing government consisted of People and Justice (NiP), Our Party (NS), Independent Bosnian List (NBL) and independent deputies.
The new majority had earlier said that they will form the new government by the end of February.
Konakovic told N1 that ever since he left the SDA, he received 14 criminal complaints, but none of them was successful because he “never stole anything.”
Asked about the fact that he was one of the rare politicians to speak against the first gay Pride event in Sarajevo which was held in the summer of 2019 and whether that influenced the international community to not extend its support to the now-ousted government, Konakovic said he would not be surprised if it did.
“I spoke against the Pride at a Peace Implementation Council's session when everyone in the room froze. I have my own norms and principles and that parade went against my convictions. I remember when I spoke about it to (international community's High Representative in Bosnia Valentin) Inzko and the ambassadors, the situation became unpleasant. Before that they all praised me. Still, I think they couldn't have saved this government because (DF leader Zeljko) Komsic had his own goals,” Konakovic concluded.
Speaking about the possibility of creating a joint list for the upcoming election with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), NS and the NBL, the opposition leader said he met with leaders of these three parties and that he expects the formation of a joint list.
“We'll have joint candidates for heads of Sarajevo Canton's municipalities as well as for some cities in the Federation entity. I personally don't have particular ambitions for the upcoming election,” he noted.
When asked to comment on the speculation that he might run for Sarajevo mayor, Konakovic said he never discussed this with anyone.
