Kosovo Drug Lord's Trial Rocks Bosnia Coalition

"We have cold, official relations and they should remain that way," Bakir Izetbegovic said on Monday after an urgent session of the leadership of his Party of Democratic Action, SDA, which met to review the status of its coalition with the Alliance for Better Future, SBB, led by Fahrudin Radoncic.

"The SDA collegium has considered Radoncic's statements in the court in Kosovo, and has condemned them most strongly," Izetbegovic added.

"The collegium believes that the SDA-SBB coalition should remain, regardless of the relations between Izetbegovic and Radoncic," he continued.

This alliance between the two main Bosniak national parties is a key part of the ruling coalition at state level in Bosnia as well as in Bosnia's Bosniak and Croat-dominated Federation entity.

Its breakup would therefore topple both the Bosnian state and Federation entity governments.

Both Izetbegovic and Radoncic in separate statements on Monday claimed the alliance between the two parties remained intact.

However, officials from both parties told Balkan Insight that deep animosities between the two leaders have resurfaced as both parties - following the recent local elections - start positioning themselves for the 2018 general elections.

The tensions between the parties erupted over the past few days following several controversial statements made by Radoncic in court in Pristina, Kosovo.

The media mogul, construction tycoon and SBB leader was in Kosovo for the past week, testifying in the trial of Naser Keljmendi, considered one of the leading drug lords in the Balkans.

Radoncic's testified about his alleged links with Keljmendi and other members of mafia and political circles in the region. 

In court, Radoncic denied any special...