Abdulah Skaka

Abdulah Skaka (born 5 December 1983) is a Bosnian politician and economist who served as the 38th mayor of Sarajevo from 2017 to 2021. He has been a member of the Party of Democratic Action since 2013.

Abdulah Skaka
Skaka in 2017
38th Mayor of Sarajevo
In office
6 February 2017 – 8 April 2021
Preceded byIvo Komšić
Succeeded byBenjamina Karić
Personal details
Born (1983-12-05) 5 December 1983
Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
Political partyParty of Democratic Action (2013–present)
Education
ProfessionPolitician and economist

Early and personal life

Skaka was born on 5 December 1983 in Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia, the oldest of six children to Dr. Uzeir Skaka (died 2015) and Amra.[1][2] His paternal grandfather, also named Abdulah, was a co-founder of the Party of Democratic Action in 1990.[3]

The Skaka family first arrived to Sarajevo around 1665,[4] when his ancestor opened the cities first barber shop in the Stari Grad municipality.[5]

Since 2009, he has worked as the general manager of SKY Media company in Sarajevo.[6] Skaka lives in Stari Grad with his wife and two children.[7][8]

Political career

Skaka joined the Party of Democratic Action in 2013 and was elected by 16 out of the 28 members of the Sarajevo City Council to become the 38th mayor of the city on 6 February 2017, replacing Ivo Komšić.[9] Skaka's major achievements include the reconstruction and reopening of the Sarajevo cable car in April 2018[10] and hosting the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival alongside East Sarajevo in February 2019.[11] Following the 2020 municipal elections, on 8 April 2021, Skaka was succeeded by Benjamina Karić as mayor of Sarajevo.[12]

Controversies

Skaka claimed to have graduated from the School of Economics and Business at the University of Sarajevo in 2011, although in October 2018 it was found that he actually attended the University of Travnik.[13] He also been criticized for his lack of knowledge of regional politics and politicians, such as once claiming on television that Bosnian politician Stjepan Kljuić was the former Croatian president Stjepan Mesić, apparently confusing the two.[14]

On 28 February 2020, it was revealed in a leaked recording that Skaka's election for Sarajevo mayor was not legitimate and that decisive votes had been bought.[15][16] Publishing of the leaked recording resulted in a series of calls for his resignation or suspension, including petition by citizens,[17] several calls for resignation or suspension by politicians or political parties present in the Sarajevo City Council,[18][19][20] and by intellectuals.[21] After all these charges however, the City Council refused to dismiss him.[22]

On 23 May 2023, Skaka was detained for questioning and then arrested on suspicion of abuse of office during his term as mayor.[23]

References
  1. "Ko je Abdulah Skaka, novi gradonačelnik Sarajeva". BA N1. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  2. "Sjećanje na Abdulaha Skaku". Preporod. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  3. "BEĆIREVIĆ I SKAKA U UTRCI ZA GRADONAČELNIKA SARAJEVA". Hayat. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  4. "Čovjek čijeg se prezimena svi plaše". Slobodna Bosna. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  5. "Skake više od 300 godina njeguju porodičnu tradiciju". Klix. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  6. "Abdulah Skaka". Hamdocamo. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  7. "Abdulah Skaka biografija". Imovina Politicara. 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  8. "Imovina gradonačelnika Sarajeva: Koliko je "težak" Abdulah Skaka". Faktor. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  9. "Abdulah Skaka novi gradonačelnik Sarajeva". Al Jazeera Balkans. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  10. "Svečano otvorena Trebevićka žičara, simbol i ponos Sarajeva" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  11. "2019 Winter EYOF". Eyof.org. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  12. R.D. (8 April 2021). "Benjamina Karić je zvanično nova gradonačelnica Sarajeva" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  13. "SDA-ov gradonačelnik Sarajeva Abdulah Skaka lažirao biografiju". Avaz. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  14. "Svi gafovi gradonačelnika Sidrana, pardon Skake". Oslobodjenje. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  15. "Mayor Skaka avoiding to answer allegations". Klix. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  16. "How Sabina Cudic Lost Bid for Sarajevo Mayor". Klix. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  17. "Citizens Petition for Resignation". Online Peticija. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  18. "Nasa Stranka Launches Process Against Abdulah Skaka". BanjaLuka In. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  19. "City Council Member Stojnic Asks for Skaka's Resignation". Radio Sarajevo. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  20. "Independent Parliament Members Demand Skaka's Resignation". Klix. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  21. "Zubčević: Afera "Asim"". Nomad. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  22. "Odbačena inicijativa za pokretanje smjene Abdulaha Skake". Dnevni avaz. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  23. D.Be. (23 May 2023). "Uhapšen Abdulah Skaka, bivši gradonačelnik Sarajeva" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
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