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Some believe that #BiH local elections were about #nationalism.
@bpolitics reports that "Nationalist Hardliners Lose Local Ballot in Big Cities" & @Reuters that "opposition parties proclaimed victory...defeating long-ruling nationalists."
What were these elections really about?
@bpolitics reports that "Nationalist Hardliners Lose Local Ballot in Big Cities" & @Reuters that "opposition parties proclaimed victory...defeating long-ruling nationalists."
What were these elections really about?
Let's look at #BanjaLuka!
Voters had a choice between Igor #Radojičić & Draško #Stanivuković.
The incumbent Radojičić (photo/standing) is a member of Milorad #Dodik's #SNSD and he lost against Stanivuković (photo/sitting) who is a member of Branimir #Borenović's ( @EPP) #PDP.
Voters had a choice between Igor #Radojičić & Draško #Stanivuković.
The incumbent Radojičić (photo/standing) is a member of Milorad #Dodik's #SNSD and he lost against Stanivuković (photo/sitting) who is a member of Branimir #Borenović's ( @EPP) #PDP.
Dodik & Radojičić conceded quickly after the polls were closed.
In 2020, compared to 2016, #Radojičić received 13,000 votes less. #Stanivuković won with 8,000 votes lead.
In 2020, compared to 2016, #Radojičić received 13,000 votes less. #Stanivuković won with 8,000 votes lead.
Is #Radojičić (born 1966) a "nationalist hardliner"?
Not really! He rejects to self-declare as a #Serb & during the time as a speaker of the RS Assembly (2006-14) many believed he was #SNSD's moderate/European alternative, waiting for the best moment to stand up against Dodik!
Not really! He rejects to self-declare as a #Serb & during the time as a speaker of the RS Assembly (2006-14) many believed he was #SNSD's moderate/European alternative, waiting for the best moment to stand up against Dodik!
Has Stanivuković (born 1993) ran an anti-nationalistic campaign?
Not really! He does not recognise the #genocide in #Srebrenica, believes internationals have been unfair to Serbs & he thinks #BanjaLuka should have city symbols that represent the current majority: Serbs!
Not really! He does not recognise the #genocide in #Srebrenica, believes internationals have been unfair to Serbs & he thinks #BanjaLuka should have city symbols that represent the current majority: Serbs!
So has then 'a nationalist 'Stanivuković beaten 'a moderate' Radojičić?
Not really!
#Stanivuković's election campaign started years ago & was about standing up against #Dodik/ #SNSD & standing with those who stood up against Dodik too (e.g. #JusticeforDavid #DavorDragičević).
Not really!
#Stanivuković's election campaign started years ago & was about standing up against #Dodik/ #SNSD & standing with those who stood up against Dodik too (e.g. #JusticeforDavid #DavorDragičević).
#Stanivuković's campaign was almost exclusively about claims of corruption, nepotism and misuse of public funds by Dodik's & Radojicic's #SNSD. He used his social media & high quality videos to reach out to the voters.
#Stanivuković's campaign was directly asking #Dodik & partners tough questions & forcing them into showing (& filming) their unpleasant faces. In some occasions he ended up at a police & other at a hospital. He got a slap on a face from interior minister.
Voters rewarded #Stanivuković who will take over the office of a mayor! He will have to work with the city council where majority will probably be led by #SNSD & their partners, as with the entity government where #SNSD has majority. They promised not to make it easy for him!
#Stanivuković has promised to open the public space in #BanjaLuka to those who want to protest. He promised to make use of public funds more transparent & bring those funds where the needs of citizens are. Certain is that he will fight but whether he will succeed is hard to say.
For more on elections in #Sarajevo and elsewhere in next days.
So for now on why #BiH politics is not all about ethnicity & how elections have changed BiH before, have a look at @ESI_eu's page "Abandon clichés about Bosnia":
https://www.esiweb.org/proposals/abandon-cliches-about-bosnia
So for now on why #BiH politics is not all about ethnicity & how elections have changed BiH before, have a look at @ESI_eu's page "Abandon clichés about Bosnia":
https://www.esiweb.org/proposals/abandon-cliches-about-bosnia
