Sarajevo – On Thursday, November 3, 2026, senior members of three opposition parties – the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina (SBiH) and the Democratic Front (DF) – convened in the Parliament building to discuss the formation of a new government at the state, entity and cantonal levels. The meeting, described by SDA delegate Mirsad Zaimović as an “operational preparatory session,” aimed to create coordinated teams that will align the parties’ programmes and present a joint set of policy priorities to potential partners.

Attending the talks were DF representatives Mahir Mešalić and Dženan Đonlagić, SDA’s Mirsad Zaimović, and SBiH delegates Mirnes Gušić and Džemal Smajić. Zaimović emphasized that the three parties have already agreed to cooperate and that there is “no dilemma or internal problem” within the grouping. He added that any decision to include additional partners or conduct further consultations will be taken by the parties’ leadership bodies.

Smajić, speaking on behalf of SBiH, confirmed that the party is already engaged in negotiations with SDA and DF regarding power-sharing at the state and entity levels, as well as in most cantons where the coalition enjoys a majority. He framed the coalition’s overarching goal as the protection of the constitutional order, referencing a recent demand by Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik to replace foreign judges on the BiH Constitutional Court. “No one will accept ultimatums that harm Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions,” Smajić warned.

When questioned about Dodik’s statement that he would not allow SBiH to join the state government, Smajić suggested that Dodik’s stance stems from the 2022‑2026 term when he selected Bosniak representatives. He noted, “He will not succeed now because he no longer has the ‘non‑party’ players of the former Triad parties in front of him; he faces serious parties and serious people.”

The meeting also addressed rumors of U.S. interference. Smajić dismissed claims that the American Embassy was meddling in the coalition talks, describing them as “spin.” He affirmed that the embassy had a constructive dialogue with the parties about bilateral relations but made clear that Washington does not intend to intervene in Bosnia’s internal political process.

DF’s Dženan Đonlagić framed the session as technical preparation for aligning programmes across government levels. He reiterated that the DF will only consider new majorities with parties that were in opposition during the 2022‑2026 mandate, explicitly ruling out any continuation of the Triad’s rule for the 2026‑2030 term. Regarding the Canton of Sarajevo, Đonlagić said all three parties are firm in their stance that the Triad must move to opposition and that canton‑level teams are already drafting joint programmes.

The participants acknowledged that formal talks on the Federation and state levels will likely wait until the Central Election Commission confirms the election results and the legal deadlines for constituting legislative bodies begin. Nonetheless, the meeting signaled a coordinated opposition effort to reshape Bosnia and Herzegovina’s political landscape after four years of Triad dominance.

The coalition’s next steps include finalising joint policy documents, selecting negotiation teams for each administrative tier and presenting a unified front in upcoming inter‑party talks. Observers note that the cohesion displayed in today’s meeting could pose a significant challenge to the ruling parties’ grip on power, especially if the opposition can maintain its united stance through the crucial post‑election period.

Sources (learn more):

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