Suad Zeljković (born 13 September 1960) is a Bosnian politician who served as Premier of Sarajevo Canton, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's ten cantons, until his forced resignation as a result of the countrywide anti-government riots in February 2014.[1][2]

Suad Zeljković
Premier of Sarajevo Canton
In office
21 November 2012 – 8 February 2014
Preceded byFikret Musić
Succeeded byMuhamed Kozadra
Personal details
Born (1960-09-13) 13 September 1960 (age 63)
Sarajevo, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavia
NationalityBosnian
Political partyParty of Democratic Action

Biography edit

Zeljković was the director of the public utility company Toplanama until November 2012 and began working at Energoinvest in 1985.[3]

He speaks Bosnian, English and German.

2014 riots and resignation edit

Zeljković was forced to resign as Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton on the night of 8 February 2014, following days of the 2014 protests and riots throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.[4][5][6][7] He had served since 21 November 2012 and, like most Bosnian politicians, was accused of corruption by protesters.[8][9] Zeljković was quoted as saying: "I have not gone out of fear, I do not want to be a doormat for your feet."[10] He also said that the anti-government revolt in his country had "elements of a coup d'état."[11] The New York Times stated that Zeljković angered citizens even more during the riots when he said that the people of Sarajevo were not justified in their dissatisfaction; "In Sarajevo, no one has reasons for unrest and actions like this," he told reporters on 6 February. "There is not a single unpaid salary, nor does any sector of society have reasons for dissatisfaction."[12]

References edit

  1. ^ "Premijer za sebe". Dnevni avaz. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  2. ^ "Suad Zeljković, premijer Kantona Sarajevo: Postali smo neradan narod". Nezavisne. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Posrnuli premijer". Dnevni avaz. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Premijer Vlade KS-a Suad Zeljković podnio ostavku". Radio Sarajevo. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Bosna ne odustaje od prosvjeda, ostavke". Index. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Bosnia draws back from unrest, protesters vow to persist". Reuters. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Prosvjednici se razišli: Premijer Zeljković dao ostavku". RTL. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Ko su novi sarajevski ministri?". Radio Sarajevo. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Demonstranti se razišli, uspostavljen saobraćaj". Al Jazeera. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Zeljković: Nisam otišao iz straha, samo ne želim biti otirač za noge!". Radio Sarajevo. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  11. ^ "Premijer Kantona Sarajevo dao ostavku, prosvjedi i u nedjelju". 24 sata. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  12. ^ "Protests Over Government and Economy Roil Bosnia". The New York Times. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.