Local elections were held in Ilidža on 15 November 2020 to elect members of the municipal council and the municipal mayor. The elections were part of the Bosnian municipal elections. The elections occurred under the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background.
Incumbent municipal mayor, Senaid Memić, was not seeking re-election, instead the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) candidate was former Bosnian Army commander Fikret Prevljak. The political dynamics in Ilidža mirrored broader trends in the Sarajevo Canton, with the "Four" coalition, a broad coalition of parties united in opposition to the SDA's dominance in the Canton, composing of People and Justice (NiP), the Social Democratic Party, Our Party and the Independent Bosnian-Herzegovinian List. Their candidate was NiP's Nermin Muzur. There were also two candidates from minor parties, Edin Bunda from the Platform for Progress, Tahir Pervan from the Independent Bloc and Muhamed Kubat who was an independent candidate.
Campaign.
Prevljak's campaign emphasized the importance of continuing the development of Ilidža, including infrastructure projects like a tramway to the neighborhood of Hrasnica, a cable car from Hrasnica to mount Igman and improving water and sewage systems. He promised to create job opportunities for young people to prevent their emigration and supported projects for self-employment and housing for young couples. His campaign was also marred by some controversy. The Central Election Commission had initiated proceedings against Prevljak, due to his controversial statement about Predrag Kojović, the president of Our Party, implying that Kojović “won't be around,” which the party reported as a threat. He also sent a letter to a dead soldier, Fahrudin Kovač, asking for his vote. Kovač’s son, Amar, who responded to it, said that his father died in 1992. Amar expressed his family's struggles and criticized Prevljak for the emotional distress caused by the letter.
Muzur was formerly a member of the SDA but left with several other SDA members to form People and Justice in 2018. He campaigned emphasizing the differences between the two parties, particularly in their approach to corruption and transparency and that he was willing to make personal sacrifices, such as reducing his salary and using public transport, to set an example and save costs. He promised to implement managerial governance, develop industrial zones, and improve tourism in Ilidža. He also supported building a tram line from Ilidža to Hrasnica and a cable car from Hrasnica to Igman. Regarding whether Ilidža should be a separate city or part of the capital Sarajevo, he said that decision should be made by its residents.
Platform for Progress candidate Edin Bunda criticized the lack of vision, knowledge, and strategy in local politics, criticizing both the ruling party and the opposition, calling for new faces in politics, change, and fresh ideas. His campaign focused on security, economic development, urbanization, and transparency. He also planned to address pollution, COVID-19, low birth rates, and traffic congestion by involving experts.
During a TV debate, independent candidate Muhamed Kubat, in what seemed like a frustrated, unplanned move, announced his withdrawal from the race to support Fikret Prevljak.
References.
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