Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Quest for Change

Though Mirsad Hadzikadic’s message of hope and change for Bosnia and Herzegovina during the recent presidential election was embraced by many, as reflected by his unprecedented results on October 7, there remains a prevailing sense of uncertainty across the country.  Some reports have gone as far as to paint a picture of doom and gloom.  I had an opportunity to speak with Mirsad in his University of North Carolina at Charlotte office, while back in the states for a brief visit.  We talked about the current climate and the challenges it presents for he and the movement going forward.

Statehood Day in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a national holiday celebrated on November 25 of each year.  It was on this day in 1943 that the Anti-Fascist Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ZAVNOBiH) adopted a resolution declaring Bosnia and Herzegovina an equal community of Serbs, Muslims and Croats.  The resolution was adopted when Yugoslavia was occupied and divided between Germany, Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria.  Mirsad Hadzikadic and his Platform For Progress team felt it appropriate on this day to officially announce the formation of the movement.  However the planned event is much more than just an announcement.  Mirsad and I spoke about its significance not only for the movement, but the country as a whole moving forward.

For Mirsad Hadzikadic and his campaign team the future is now.  With the formation of the Platform for Progress moment in place, all eyes are focused on preparations for the Constitutional Assembly and all of the intricate details that entails.   His campaign is also finalizing preparations for the official announcement of the movement, November 25, Statehood Day in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Mirsad and I spoke of this very exciting and yet challenging time as they continue to plant the seeds of democracy.

The Platform for Progress movement has been established.  An all encompassing platform has been written.  Who then, moving forward, will be the candidates who have passionately embraced the vision of hope and change for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which  Mirsad Hadzikadic brought to the forefront during the recent presidential election?  I spoke with Mirsad about this arduous but at the same time exciting process; the vetting and identifying those best qualified to represent the movement in the 2020 local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In less than a month following Mirsad Hadzikadic’s historic and unprecedented results in the October 7, 2018 Bosnian presidential election, the work has already begun as his team looks ahead to the the local elections in 2020 and of course the next presidential election in 2022.  With the party, or movement, as Mirsad prefers to call it already established, and an all encompassing platform written, it is now time to take these newly formed ideas of transformation for Bosnia and Herzegovina and put them into action for all to see.  Mirsad and I recently had an opportunity to discuss the obvious challenges that lie ahead but also the excitement that he and others share as they embark upon this historic journey of change in his native land.

In May of 2018 Mirsad was a virtual unknown in the political spectrum in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Here was a man with a vision of change and hope for his homeland, running as an independent candidate for president, just starting to assemble a team around him, and a campaign that was totally underfunded.  However the winds of change have blown his direction over the past few months as Mirsad is a relatively unknown no longer.  A historic and unprecedented showing in the October 7 presidential election has become the catalyst, the spark, which has truly ignited his movement for change.  No, he did not win in his bid for a seat on the presidential council, but what has happened in the ensuing days is no less remarkable.

The electorate of Bosnia and Herzegovina has spoken, and no Mirsad Hadzikadic was not elected to be the next Bosniak representative on the three member presidential council.  Of the six candidates who were running, Mirsad, an independent, finished fourth behind the well established and well funded candidates of various national parties.  In Sarajevo though he finished a strong third, out polling one of the heavily favored candidates from a national party.  When all of the absentee ballots are finally counted it is expected that Mirsad will have received over 50,000 votes.  This from a man who was a relatively unknown back in May, running a campaign that was totally underfunded compared to the competition and piecing together a campaign team one day at a time.  However by the latter part of August, the little train that could, started gaining momentum as the “spark” of change finally ignited within a core group of supporters.  Mirsad, his wife Mirzeta and I met in Old Sarajevo on this day after the election.  We sat beneath a canopy at an outdoor restaurant as a slight drizzle tqpped out a tune above us.  We spoke about the results and what lies ahead.

It was another beautiful sunny Fall morning in Sarajevo.  As I walked through Old Sarajevo en route to the heart of the city, I couldn’t help but observe more closely the  melting pot of people, the storied histories, old and new, of the structures lining the walkway and the surrounding mountains with all of their beauty in the morning sun.  A time for reflection of what a historic day this might be for the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  I met Mirsad and his wife Mirzeta at our traditional spot of just two days near the Eternal Flame, the memorial for citizens and military members who lost their lives during WWII.  We casually made our way two a very narrow side street, with the occasional stop to greet supports, and made our way to the entrance of a building.  It was here that here the two of them and citizens from across Sarajevo would cast their ballots.  As we entered it was dark and somewhat mysterious and uninviting.  We slowly made our way to the top of a short flight stairs and then the wait began.  Only two people at a time were allowed into the area where individuals would fill out their paper ballots and submit their votes.  After some 30 minutes or so the two of them were allowed into the room behind closed doors.  Mirsad and Mirzeta would see his name atop the list of the six presidential candidates.  After another ten minutes or so the two of them came out together.  We made our way down the darkened flight of stairs and out into the morning sun.  A sense of relief could be seen on both of their faces.  After a short TV interview we again casually strolled the pedestrian walkway from the heart of the city to Old Sarajevo, along with a film crew from Germany documenting Mirsad’s day.  We couldn’t walk more than twenty yards at a time without Mirsad being stopped for a handshake and wish of good luck.  Eventually we stopped at an outdoor cafe in front of a beautiful historic Catholic Church.  It was here that I had an opportunity to speak with the two of them and get their first impressions of what had just transpired.

All of the strategizing, grueling hours, sleepless nights and countless town hall meetings and rallies across Bosnia and Herzegovina have come to an end.  It is now up to the electorate to determine if they believe in Mirsad’s message of change and that together can they can be the catalyst of a new Bosnia and Herzegovina.  They will determine if Mirsad should be the next Bosniak representative on the Bosnian and Herzegovinian presidential council.  On this Saturday morning, the day before the election, I walked the streets of Sarajevo with MIrsad, his wife Mirzeta and members of his campaign team.  It was a beautiful fall morning, the sun peaking its head out from the clouds and burning off the the last hints of a morning fog.  It’s not like it was just a few short months ago, Mirsad a relatively unknown, embarking on perhaps the biggest challenge of his life.  On this this day it was obvious that Mirsad was no longer an unknown.  He was stopped countless times by those who wanted to shake his hand or have their picture taken with him.  A shoe shiner crouched to his knees along the walkway looked up, recognized the presidential candidate, and said, “you have to have clean shoes.”  Mirsad took a look and then obliged.  A couple from Germany and a friend of theirs from Hungary had flown in and made arrangements to meet with him. They were there because they wanted to vote in person.  Some walked by taking a second look.  Yes, they knew who it was.  Or the couple who looked our direction and mouthed the words, “that’s Mirsad Hadzikadic.”  He and I took pause for a few moments at a beautiful outdoor restaurant in the heart of the city.  I asked him to share his reflections about his final address to the nation on national TV Friday night. 

 

It’s a cool crisp morning here in Sarajevo as the light fog that had gripped the city in the early morning hours slowly burns away as the sun greets this part of the world on its daily journey.  The presidential election is just one day away.  Today, October 6, is considered a quiet day, as no official campaigning is allowed by any of the candidates.  However that does not keep them from being seen in public.  Mirsad will take advantage of that opportunity hoping to get out and about around the city to meet people as they tend to their daily activities.  A man who was quite unfamiliar to the residents here back in May now can’t go out into public without being stopped by those wanting to shake his hand, have a picture taken or discuss their concerns about the current state of things in Bosnia and Herzegovina and what will he do to try and change that.  Tomorrow, October 7, will be unlike any other election day that Mirsad has experienced in his life.  For on this day his name will appear on the ballot as one of six candidates running for the Bosniak seat on the presidential council.  Following his last campaign rally in nearby Zenica on Thursday night we spoke about his plans for election day.