Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Quest for Change

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.

The pace has quickened as members of the Platform for Progress focus their attention on the upcoming local elections. The list of candidates is being finalized as the Platform continues to mull the idea of forming some sort of a coalition. In my recent conversation with Platform president, Mirsad Hadźikadić, he said they are also faced with the continual dilemma of transforming the enthusiasm they are seeing on the streets into votes at the polls.

As the October local election draws closer The Platform for Progress is again weighing the options of whether to form or join a coalition. The president of the Platform, Mirsad Hadźikadić, said there have been countless discussions both internally and around the country to determine the sentiments of doing so, and what if any benefits such a move would have for the The Platform for Progress. 

As seems to be the case every election cycle, gray clouds have once again moved in over Bosnia and Herzegovina. There remains tension over the proposed UN resolution regarding the genocide in Srebrenica as the sounds of saber rattling are loud and clear. The president of the Platform for Progress, Mirsad Hadźikadić, says the talk of war is nothing unusual during an election cycle, but the frustration is always there as it distracts from getting their message of change before the people.

A resolution regarding the genocide in Srebrenica will come before the United Nations General Assembly in May. Platform for Progress president, Mirsad Hadźikadić, says the resolution has many sponsors and there is an ongoing flurry of activity in preparation for the discussion of the resolution. Hadźikadić, says the news of the resolution is causing a lot of turmoil in Serbia as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina.