Bosnian Opposition Candidate Vukanović Refuses to Withdraw, Cites Belgrade Influence

Nebojša Vukanović, president of the List for Justice and Order, has rejected calls from other opposition parties in Republika Srpska (RS) to withdraw his candidacy for the Bosnian presidency. The opposition had sought a unified candidate against Marinko Božović, who is supported by the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), the Movement for Safe Srpska (PSS), and the People's Front (NF).

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I said half a year ago that my withdrawal is not up for negotiation, because we do not change our stances and opinions on a daily basis and that the people must have a sincere option for voting, which is not controlled from Banjica (in Belgrade) and other centers of power.

Vukanović stated on his blog that his position has not changed and that the people deserve an honest voting option not controlled by external centers of power. He criticized Draško Stanivuković, leader of PSS, for withdrawing his own RS presidential candidacy only the night before candidate registration. Vukanović suggested Stanivuković should have acted two months earlier, proposing a unified opposition front then.

"Pontius Pilate, as the mayor of Bijeljina correctly called him, is trying to play the good guy at the last minute," Vukanović commented on Stanivuković's actions. He accused Stanivuković of discrediting Branko Blanuša and weakening the SDS and the broader opposition, allegedly with the help of others. Vukanović sees Stanivuković's late withdrawal as an attempt to improve his own standing while portraying Vukanović as the "black sheep" disrupting opposition unity.

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Pontius Pilate, as the mayor of Bijeljina correctly called him, is trying to play the good guy at the last minute, when he has done the job of discrediting Branko Blanuša, destroying SDS and the opposition, with the help of (Darko) Babalja, Božović and the Sarajevo 'ćaci' BBB team of SDS.

Vukanović believes that Marinko Božović's candidacy for the presidency was orchestrated from Belgrade. He alleges the goal was to damage his own campaign and benefit Željka Cvijanović, the candidate of the ruling coalition. Vukanović contends that "the 'ćaci' government and the 'ćaci' fake controlled opposition" fear an independent candidate like himself disrupting their secret agreements and freeing the people and institutions from "heavy chains and shackles."

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All this is aimed at trying to compromise me in the eyes of the people, because both the 'ćaci government' and the 'ćaci' fake controlled opposition are afraid that someone free might mess up their plans and secret agreements, and free the people and institutions from heavy chains and shackles.