Nermin Nikšić

Nermin Nikšić (Bosnian pronunciation: [nîkʃit͡ɕ]; born 27 December 1960) is a Bosnian politician serving as Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina since April 2023, having previously served from 2011 to 2015. He is also the current president of the Social Democratic Party and served as member of the national House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022 as well.

Nermin Nikšić
Nikšić in 2018
Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Assumed office
28 April 2023
PresidentLidija Bradara
Preceded byFadil Novalić
In office
17 March 2011 – 31 March 2015
PresidentŽivko Budimir
Marinko Čavara
Preceded byMustafa Mujezinović
Succeeded byFadil Novalić
President of the Social Democratic Party
Assumed office
7 December 2014
Preceded byZlatko Lagumdžija
Parliamentary offices
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
6 December 2018 – 1 December 2022
Member of the Federal House of Representatives
In office
31 March 2015 – 6 December 2018
In office
2000 – 17 March 2011
Personal details
Born (1960-12-27) 27 December 1960
Konjic, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavia
NationalityBosnian
Political partySocial Democratic Party (1993–present)
SpouseNadija Nikšić
Children2
Residence(s)Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Alma materUniversity of Mostar
Military service
Allegiance Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Branch/serviceArmy of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Years of service1992–1995
Battles/warsBosnian War

Born in Konjic in 1960, Nikšić holds a degree in law from the University of Mostar. Prior to the Bosnian War, he worked in Konjic as clerk of town planning, construction and housing, as well as communal services, marketing and catering inspecting. Nikšić was Head of the Inspection from 1990 until 1992.

In 2000, Nikšić was appointed deputy mayor of Konjic, but soon resigned since he became a member of the Federal House of Representatives. In March 2011, after a year-long government formation, he was appointed Federal Prime Minister, serving until March 2015. Nikšić was elected to the national House of Representatives in the 2018 general election. In April 2023, following the 2022 general election, he succeeded Fadil Novalić and once again became Federal Prime Minister.

Nikšić joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP BiH) in 1993. In 2014, he was elected president of the SDP BiH, following his predecessor Zlatko Lagumdžija's resignation.

Early life and education

Nikšić was born on 27 December 1960 in Konjic. He attended elementary and high school in his birth town. He graduated from Faculty of Law of University of Mostar in 1986.

From 1988, Nikšić was employed in Konjic, where he worked as clerk of town planning, construction and housing, as well as communal services, marketing and catering inspecting. From 1990 until 1992, he was Head of the Inspection.

Political career

In 1993, Nikšić joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP BiH). One year later, he became president of the SDP BiH in Konjic. During the Bosnian War, he served as assistant to the commander of the 7th Brigade for legal jobs and assistant to the commander of the 43rd Brigade for moral.

From 1995 until 1998, Nikšić was vice president of the executive committee of the Municipality of Konjic, and from 1998 until 2000 he was head of General Administration, Housing and Communal Services and Inspections. In 2000, he was appointed deputy mayor of Konjic, but soon resigned after getting elected to the Federal House of Representatives.

From 2002 to 2006, Nikšić was vice president of the SDP BiH club in parliament. In 2004, he became president of the SDP BiH in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. In November 2006, Nikšić was president of the SDP BiH parliamentary club. On 7 December 2014, he became president of the SDP BiH, succeeding Zlatko Lagumdžija.[1]

On 17 March 2011, after a political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nikšić was appointed Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[2] The political crisis occurred after the 2010 general election when major parties were unable to come to an agreement to form the new government. He served as Federal Prime Minister until 31 March 2015. In the 2018 general election, Nikšić was elected to the national House of Representatives.[3] He failed to get re-elected to the House of Representatives in the 2022 general election.[4]

On 28 April 2023, with interventions by High Representative Christian Schmidt after months of political deadlock, following the 2022 general election, Nikšić succeeded Fadil Novalić to once again serve as Federal Prime Minister.[5] Nikšić pledged that economic reform, further infrastructure development and fight against corruption are the main goal of his government.[6]

Controversies

Dispute of premiership

Former Federal Prime Minister, Fadil Novalić, who Nikšić succeeded in April 2023 after Christian Schmidt's intervention, at first refused to concede the power, and continues contesting his forceable deposing as illegal and unconstitutional.[7] Nikšić's appointment was also deemed unconstitutional by the opposition, but was afterwards accepted.[8]

Controversial cabinet picks

Controversies abound around Nikšić's cabinet members too, some of whom, like the minister of culture and sports, openly support war criminals; others, like the interior minister, are convicted felons. In addition to numerous intellectuals, Bosnia and Herzegovina's prominent public figures who voiced their fierce opposition to Nikšić's vexed cabinet include film director Jasmila Žbanić,[9] poet Abdulah Sidran, and film and stage actor Emir Hadžihafizbegović.[10]

Personal life

Nermin is married to Nadija Nikšić, and together they have two children, a daughter Najra and a son Haris.

References
  1. E. Gorinjac (7 December 2014). "Nermin Nikšić je novi predsjednik SDP-a" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  2. "Nermin Nikšić novi premijer Federacije BiH" (in Bosnian). vijesti.me. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  3. Er. M. (6 December 2018). "Državni parlamentarci preuzeli mandate, SDP i PDP bojkotovali članove CIK-a" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  4. "Nermin Nikšić nije prošao u državni parlament". politicki.ba (in Bosnian). 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  5. Sedin Spahić (28 April 2023). "Imenovana Vlada: Nikšić novi premijer, SDA i službeno opozicija u FBiH, ovo su imena svih ministara" (in Bosnian). Dnevni avaz. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  6. B.H. (28 April 2023). "Nikšić predstavio plan rada predložene vlade: Fokus na ekonomskim mjerama" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  7. "Novalić otkriva ostaje li u politici, kaje li se zbog nečega, kongresu SDA, novoj Vladi FBiH" (in Bosnian). Faktor.ba. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  8. "Nikšić: Razumijem da se SDA protivi tome da prepusti vlast, znaju šta gube" (in Bosnian). N1. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  9. "Jasmila Žbanić se obrušila na trojku: Pucali ste nam u glavu" (in Bosnian). Dnevni avaz. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  10. "Hadžihafizbegović: Izjava Vlaisavljević kako masovnog ubicu iz Ahmića treba rehabilitirati je za policijsko privođenje" (in Bosnian). Faktor.ba News Portal. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
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