Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Quest for Change

After six years, the Platform for Progress will no longer exist as a sole political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This as the congress of the Platform has decided on the future direction of the party. The first option would be to join with another party or parties to form an entirely new entity. If that does not work out, then continue as a movement rather than a political party. I recently spoke with the president of the Platform for Progress, Mirsad Hadźikadić, about these difficult and trying times.

The Congress of the Platform for Progress will decide upon the future of the political organization when it meets on Saturday, October 26. In my recent conversation with the president of the Platform for Progress, Mirsad Hadźkadić, he shared the options that are being considered moving forward and some of his personal thoughts as he will be stepping down as president after serving six years in that role. 

Following the disappointing results from the local elections, some true soul-searching is underway by members of the Platform for Progress. As the president of the Platform, Mirsad Hadźikadić, recently shared, there are several options that are being considered, none of which will be easy for the party that was formed just six years ago.

The recent local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina did not play out as hoped by members of the Platform for Progress. During our recent conversation, the president of the Platform, Mirsad Hadźkadić, shared his disappointment and frustration with the ongoing struggles that are faced in the attempt to bring about democratic change to the country.

With the campaign period in full swing, members of the Platform for Progressive are manning information booths throughout the country as they pass out literature and answer questions from curious voters. And what they are hearing is the ongoing story of voter apathy. During our recent conversation the president the Platform, Mirsad Hadźkadić, spoke about his ongoing dilemma and the challenges that lie ahead in the next few weeks. 

September 6 marked the first day of the official campaign period for the local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I recently spoke with the president of the Platform for Progress, Mirsad Hadźikazdić, about what lies ahead for the Platform, the newly formed coalition, and what it all may mean. 

In just over a month voters from around Bosnia and Herzegovina will head to the polls for the local elections. I recently spoke with the Platform for Progress president, Mirsad Hadźikadić, about the ongoing preparations. Hadźikadić also took time to reflect on two events that he attended to honor those who lost their lives during the genocide. 

Each year for the last 20 years thousands have gathered from around the world to participate in the Peace March in Bosnia and Herzegovina to honor the more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys who were massacred by the Bosnian Serb force. The three-day walk traverses the same route in the mountains in reverse that the men and boys traveled while trying to escape the troops. This year, as he has done every year since 2018, Platform for Progress president Mirsad Hadzikadic participated in the march.

The Platform for Progress is finalizing the list of candidates who will appear on the ballot for the general elections in October. Platform president Mirsad Hadźkadić said the process this time is made even more tedious and complicated because of their recently formed collation. One that has him tempering the egos of some who feel they are not being represented properly on the ballot.  

The Platform for Progress has formed a coalition with another existing political party as the local elections in October draw closer. In a recent conversation with the president of the Platform, Mirsad Hadźkadić, we spoke about the reasoning behind the move and what it means moving forward for both parties.