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 64)
Sarajevo, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavia
NationalityBosnian
Political partyParty of Democratic Action

Biography

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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

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Zeljković was forced to resign as Premier 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

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  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.