The Bosnian Croat member of Bosnia’s tripartite Presidency, Zeljko Komsic, and his political allies visited the southern city of Mostar on Thursday to support the Coalition for Mostar, which is challenging the two ruling national parties at Sunday’s local election.
Because of political bickering between the main Bosniak party in the country, the Party for Democratic Action (SDA), and the strongest Bosnian Croat party, the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH), the city has not held elections for the past 12 years.
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Only in June this year did the two parties reach a compromise that allowed elections in Mostar to be held, following a years-long negotiation process facilitated by the EU and a ruling against BiH which was the result of a lawsuit by a member of the left-leaning Nasa Stranka party at the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg over the situation in the city.
Local elections took place in Bosnia on November 15, but the one in Mostar is set for December 20.
Now, the dominance of thee SDA and HDZ BiH is challenged by a coalition of several parties, including Komsic’s Democratic Front.
“We want to offer support to all candidates of the Coalition,” Komsic said. “It is clear to everyone why we are doing this and what’s at stake.”
Komsic explained that after 12 years of not having elections and of mocking democracy and the will of the citizens, voters will finally have the chance to elect their mayor and their city assembly.
He wished the city success in electing a government that will work in their interest.
He said his party is advocating for whatever is in the general interest of the country and Mostar is one of the symbols of the state.
“These are local elections, but you are all aware of the importance of Mostar,” said the DF leader and member of the BiH Presidency.
Since the 1992-95 war, Mostar has been a divided city where Bosniak and Croat national parties have kept a tight grip on the two parts popularly called East and West Mostar.
