It’s a cool crisp morning here in Sarajevo as the light fog that had gripped the city in the early morning hours slowly burns away as the sun greets this part of the world on its daily journey. The presidential election is just one day away.Today, October 6, is considered a quiet day, as no official campaigning is allowed by any of the candidates.However that does not keep them from being seen in public.Mirsad will take advantage of that opportunity hoping to get out and about around the city to meet people as they tend to their daily activities.A man who was quite unfamiliar to the residents here back in May now can’t go out into public without being stopped by those wanting to shake his hand, have a picture taken or discuss their concerns about the current state of things in Bosnia and Herzegovina and what will he do to try and change that.Tomorrow, October 7, will be unlike any other election day that Mirsad has experienced in his life.For on this day his name will appear on the ballot as one of six candidates running for the Bosniak seat on the presidential council.Following his last campaign rally in nearby Zenica on Thursday night we spoke about his plans for election day.
Još samo jedan dan do izbora za Mirsada Hadžikadića kao kandidata za predsjednika Bosne i Hercegovine
Svježe je i prohladno jutro ovdje u Sarajevu, sa laganom maglom koja je zahvatila grad u ranim jutarnjim satima a sada se polako razilazi dok sunce pozdravlja ovaj dio svijeta na svom dnevnom putovanju. Predsjednički izbori su za samo jedan dan. Danas, 6. oktobra, je dan predizborne tišine kada nijednom kandidatu nije dopuštena službena kampanja. Međutim, to ih ne sprečava da se pojavljuju u javnosti. Mirsad će iskoristiti tu priliku s nadom da prošeta gradom i sretne ljude dok se oni bave svojim svakodnevnim poslovima. Čovjek koji je u maju lokalnom stanovništvu bio prilično nepoznat sada ne može izaći u javnost a da ga ne zaustavljaju oni koji žele da se rukuju, fotografišu i razgovaraju s njim o zabrinutosti zbog trenutnog stanja u Bosni i Hercegovini, i da pitaju šta će on uraditi da to pokuša promijeniti. Sutra, 7. oktobra, bit će drugačiji od svih drugih dana izbora koje je Mirsad doživio u svom životu. Jer, tog dana njegovo ime će biti na glasačkom listiću kao ime jednog od šest kandidata koji se kandiduju za bošnjačko mjesto u Predsjedništvu. Nakon njegovog posljednjeg skupa u četvrtak naveče u obližnjoj Zenici, razgovarali smo o njegovim planovima za dan izbora.
The final rally for Mirsad and his presidential campaign took place on Thursday, October 4, in the small city of Zenica, some 40 miles to the north of Sarajevo. The venue was the Bosnian National Theatre located in the heart of Zenica, the fourth largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina.A crowd of over 200 who either already knew about MIrsad and wanted to show their support or others still looking for additional answers, listened intently to his message of change and his vision of hope for those in his native home.Afterward he and I had an opportunity to sit down at a neighborhood restaurant to talk about the last couple of days and the final two rallies of the campaign, as well as a look ahead to a very important appearance today, October 5, on national TV.
Završeni su skupovi i javne tribine kampanje Mirsada Hadžikadića koji se kandidovao za predsjednika Bosne i Hercegovine
Završni skup za Mirsada i njegovu predsjedničku kampanju održan je u četvrtak, 4. oktobra, u malom gradu Zenici udaljenom 60-tak kilometara od Sarajeva. Mjesto održavanja bilo je Bosansko narodno pozorište smješteno u srcu Zenice, četvrtog grada po veličini u Bosni i Hercegovini. Preko 200 posjetilaca koji su ili već znali za Mirsada pa htjeli dati podršku ili su još uvijek tražili dodatne odgovore, pažljivo su slušali njegovu poruku promjene i viziju nade za one u rodnom domu. Nakon toga on i ja smo imali priliku sjesti u susjedski restoran i razgovarati o posljednjih nekoliko dana i posljednja dva skupa kampanje, kao i o važnom nastupu danas, 5. oktobra, na državnoj televiziji.
I arrived at the Bosnian Cultural Center, located in the heart of Sarajevo’s Old Town, about 30 minutes before MIrsad’s first and only rally of the campaign in Sarajevo.What a lovely setting in this old historic structure located in the site of what was originally the Great Sephardic Temple, Sarajevo’s largest synagogue.The grand auditorium opens its arms to you as you walk through the doors.A sparse crowd dotted the some 800 seats. However that would all change.While chatting with members of the campaign team upfront, one tapped me on the shoulder and pointed behind me.What had been a sparse crowd was now a sea of faces, filling the auditorium to its capacity.Elders, middle-aged and young alike had come to hear MIrsad’s message of change and his wish to instill a vision of hope that together that change will be possible.As he has at other rallies throughout the campaign, MIrsad didn’t hesitate to stray away from the norm.A young student from Tuzla, a renowned classical guitarist who has won numerous international awards, played with passion.Then Josip Pejakovic, one of Bosnia’s best known actors, and a Serbian, took the stage and introduced Mirsad.For the next 40 minutes or so MIrsad spoke to a captivated audience.No, I didn’t understand a word he was saying, but I didn’t need to.There was a universal language being spoken on the faces of those who were riveted to his every word. One of pain, suffering, anguish and hope for a brighter future. That told me all I needed to know. Then, keeping with his “unconventional approach”, he took questions from the audience and then brought his campaign team to the front of the auditorium and had them introduce themselves and share their stories of why they had joined “the movement.”Mirsad then closed the rally and a sea of people flooded to the front of the auditorium to greet him, hug him, have their pictures taken with him and thank him.As I stood watching and trying to soak up the moment, a young man by my side asked if I was part of the campaign.I said no as I explained he was my former boss, a dear friend and I had been documenting his story and was afforded the opportunity to come to Bosnia to experience it all in person.He asked me to describe Mirsad in one word.I told him I didn’t know if there was one word that could encapsulate all that he is.So I used the one I use most often, remarkable.I then asked if he was a volunteer with the campaign.He answered no. He said he had just learned of MIrsad and his message of change only two short weeks ago and came out to show his support.I also was taken aback by being revered by someone I had never met just because I knew the man who might change the course of his life and others.So, I asked young Emil Pasic, 26, if I could speak with him.I share part of that conversation…..
Mirsad Hadžikadić očarao je stotine posjetilaca na svom skupu predsjedničke kampanje u Sarajevu
Stigao sam u Bosanski kulturni centar, smješten u srcu Starog grada Sarajeva, oko pola sata prije prvog i jedinog skupa kampanje u Sarajevu. Kakvo divno okruženje u ovoj staroj historijskoj građevini koja je na početku bila Veliki sefardski hram, najveća sarajevska sinagoga. Veliki auditorij prima vas u svoj zagrljaj dok prolazite kroz vrata. Rijetki posjetioci prošarali su 800 sjedišta. Međutim, sve to se ubrzo promijenilo. Dok sam razgovarao s članovima tima za kampanju u prednjem dijelu sale, jedan od njih me potapšao po ramenu i pokazao iza mene. Sala rijetko prošarana posjetiocima pretvorila se u rijeku lica koja su punila auditorijum do punog kapaciteta. Stariji, sredovječni i mladi ljudi došli su čuti Mirsadovu poruku o promjenama i njegovoj želji da donese viziju nade da je moguće te promjene donijeti zajedno. Kao i na ostalim skupovima tokom kampanje, Mirsad se nije ustručavao da odstupi od norme. Mladi student iz Tuzle, poznati klasični gitarista koji je osvojio brojne međunarodne nagrade, svirao je sa strašću. Zatim je Josip Pejaković, jedan od najpoznatijih bosanskohercegovačkih glumaca, i Srbin, stupio na pozornicu i predstavio Mirsada. Sljedećih 40-tak minuta Mirsad je govorio očaranoj publici. Nisam razumio ni riječ koju je rekao, ali nisam ni morao. Lica publike koja su upijala svaku njegovu riječ govorila su univerzalnim jezikom. Jezik boli, patnje, tjeskobe i nade za svjetliju budućnost. To mi je reklo sve što treba da znam. Zatim je, držeći se svog „nekonvencionalnog pristupa“, odgovarao na pitanja publike, a onda je izveo svoj tim za kampanju kako bi se oni predstavili i ispričali zašto su se pridružili „pokretu“. Mirsad je zatim zatvorio skup i rijeka ljudi je prišla da ga pozdravi, zagrli, fotografiše se sa njim i zahvali mu. Dok sam stajao promatrajući i pokušavajući da upijem taj trenutak, jedan mladić pored mene pitao me da li sam dio kampanje. Rekao sam da nisam nego da je Mirsad moj bivši šef i drag prijatelj i da sam ja dokumentovao njegovu priču i tako dobio priliku da dođem u Bosnu kako bih sve to lično doživio. Zamolio me je da jednom riječju opišem Mirsada. Rekao sam mu da ne znam postoji li jedna riječ koja bi mogla da obuhvati sve što on predstavlja. Tako da sam upotrijebio onu koju najčešće koristim: izvanredan. Pitao sam ga je li i on volontira za kampanju. Odgovorio je da ne volontira, nego je tek prije dvije sedmice saznao za Mirsada i njegovu poruku o promjeni, pa je došao da pokaže svoju podršku. Bio sam zatečen što mi je poštovanje pokazao neko koga nikad prije nisam sreo, samo zato što sam poznavao čovjeka koji bi mogao promijeniti tok njegovog života i života drugih. Zato sam pitao mladog Emila Pašića (26) mogu li razgovarati s njim. Dijelim dio tog razgovora…
Winding down is not a phrase familiar to or accepted by Mirsad’s campaign as the election on October 7 is now under a week away. The remaining days are filled with media interviews both in Bosnia and via Skype in the US, face-offs or debates and rallies.Tonight, October 3, he willhold a rally here in Sarajevo, the capital and largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina.The rest of the week is then consumed with another rally in Zenica, and yet another nationally televised debate on Friday, October 5.Mirsad took a moment with me to look at the next few days before the election.
Mirsad Hadžikadić i njegov tim za kampanju nastavljaju žestokim tempom, sa predsjedničkim izborima koji će se održati za manje od sedmicu dana
Usporavanje je nepoznanica u Mirsadovoj kampanji, jer su izbori zakazani za 7. oktobar do čega je preostalo manje od sedmicu dana. Preostali dani ispunjeni su medijskim intervjuima, kako u Bosni tako i putem Skype-a u SAD-u, sučeljavanjima ili debatama i skupovima. Večeras, 3. oktobra, on će održati skup ovdje u Sarajevu, glavnom gradu i najvećem gradu Bosne i Hercegovine. Ostatak sedmice je ispunjen još jednim skupom u Zenici te nastupom u televizijskoj debati u petak, 5. oktobra. Mirsad mi je posvetio nekoliko trenutaka kako bismo razgovarali o nekoliko narednih dana pred izbore.
As my plane slowly made its descent into Sarajevo I was awestruck by the beauty of the surrounding mountains.The haze and late day rays of sun embraced the sprawling peaks and their vast meadows, casting a mesmerizing image of a set of mighty waves in the ocean making their way to shore as the mountain tops peaked in and out of the blanket of haze that had settled in for the day.Sarajevo and those of us on the plane were the lucky benefactors of nature’s paintbrush on this day.
Throughout the campaign MIrsad and I have spoken via Skype as thousands of miles have kept us separated.Today that all changed as I was fortunate enough to travel to Bosnia, thanks to the generosity of the Echo Foundation, and sit down face-to-face with him on the patio of a local restaurant in Sarajevo.Mirsad had time for a quick bite of food, the occasional puff on a cigar and some conversation between debates and hitting the road for yet another rally on this final week of the presidential campaign.I of course had to ask him about this so-called “eighty seconds heard around Bosnia” following a recent televised presidential debate.
Osamdeset sekundi koje su se čule širom Bosne i Hercegovine: Mirsad Hadžikadić napušta nedavnu televizijsku predsjedničku debatu
Dok se moj avion polako spuštao u Sarajevo, bio sam zadivljen ljepotom okolnih planina. Izmaglica i sunčeve zrake kasnog popodneva grlile su nizove planinskih vrhova i njihove prostrane livade, stvorivši opčinjavajuću sliku serije moćnih talasa u okeanu kako se probijaju do obale, dok su vrhovi planina izvirivali tu i tamo iz prekrivača izmaglice koja se tu smjestila za ostatak dana. Sarajevo i mi putnici u avionu smo bili sretnici koji su mogli uživati u slici koju je naslikala priroda tog dana.
Tokom kampanje Mirsad i ja razgovarali smo putem Skype-a, pošto su nas hiljade kilometara razdvajale. Danas se sve to promijenilo, pošto sam imao sreće da otputujem u Bosnu, zahvaljujući velikodušnosti Echo fondacije, i sjednem s njim oči u oči u otvorenom dvorištu jednog sarajevskog restorana. Mirsad je imao tek toliko vremena da nešto prezalogaji, otpuhne koji dim cigare i obavi kratki razgovor između debata i polaska na još jedan izborni skup u ovoj posljednjoj sedmici predsjedničke kampanje. Ja sam ga, naravno, morao pitati o takozvanih „osamdeset sekundi koje su se čule širom Bosne“ nakon nedavne televizijske predsjedničke debate.
The presidential election in Bosnia and Herzegovina is now just days away, not weeks.A campaign in which Mirsad Hadzikadic has reached out to an electorate with his vision of change for his native land, one he hopes they will embrace and understand that together it can happen.We spoke about his recent stops at rallies across the country to the brief encounters at street side cafes. And it is becoming more obvious that his message is striking a chord especially among the young.
Sve snažniji osjećaj da su mnogi prigrlili poruku promjena dok predsjednička kampanja Mirsada Hadžikadića ulazi u posljednju sedmicu
Predsjednički izbori u Bosni i Hercegovini su za samo nekoliko dana, a ne sedmica. Kampanja u kojoj se Mirsad Hadžikadić obratio biračkom tijelu sa svojom vizijom promjene za svoj rodni kraj, za koju se nada se da će ju oni prigrliti i razumjeti da ju zajedno mogu ostvariti. Razgovarali smo o skupovima koji se održavaju širom zemlje kao i kratkim susretima u kafićima. Sve je očitije da je njegova poruka pogodila pravu žicu, pogotovo među mladima.
The long and grueling days of canvassing cities, towns, villages, and neighborhood cafés across Bosnia and Herzegovina has subsided a bit.With the October 7 presidential election less than two weeks away the focus now is on the remaining face-offs and campaign rallies, as Mirsad continues his efforts to energize the electorate and instill in them the hope and vision that together, change and a new beginning are possible.We spoke about the messaging as the campaign period draws to a close and what the polling numbers are currently saying.
Posljednje dvije sedmice predsjedničke kampanje Mirsada Hadžikadića u Bosni i Hercegovini
Dugi i mučni dani posjeta gradovima, selima i kafićima širom Bosne i Hercegovine malo su se smirili. S obzirom da su predsjednički izbori 7. oktobra za manje od dvije sedmice, fokus je sada stavljen na preostala sučeljavanja i predizborne skupove, dok Mirsad nastavlja borbu osnaživanja biračkog tijela i ulijevanja nade i vizije da zajedničkim snagama mogu donijeti promjene i novi početak. Razgovarali smo o njegovoj poruci kako se vrijeme kampanje bliži kraju, kao i o tome kakve rezultate pokazuju zadnje ankete.
Mostar is the sixth largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and located some 45 miles southwest of Sarajevo.As Mirsad points out it is a heavily divided city, home to large populations of both Croats and Bosniaks.A very challenging environment as he and his presidential campaign team held their first rally there on September 19th. And despite initial concerns and some anxious moments as they were about to embark into uncharted waters, Mirsad and his team came away very pleased with how the event transpired.We spoke about his overall impressions and a new element his campaign added, live streaming on Facebook.
Mirsad Hadžikadić i njegov tim za predsjedničku kampanju održali predizborni skup u Mostaru
Mostar je šesti grad po veličini u Bosni i Hercegovini i smješten je oko 45 milja jugozapadno od Sarajeva. Kao što Mirsad ističe, to je jako podijeljen grad, dom velikog broja Hrvata i Bošnjaka. To je okruženje koje predstavlja veliki izazov i gdje su on i njegov tim za predsjedničku kampanju održali svoj prvi predizborni skup 19. septembra. Uprkos početnoj zabrinutosti i nekim tjeskobnim trenucima kad su trebali zaploviti ovim nepoznatim vodama, Mirsad i njegov tim su na kraju bili jako zadovoljni kako je događaj prošao. Razgovarali smo o njegovim ukupnim utiscima i o novom elementu uključenom u aktivnosti kampanje – prenosima uživo na Facebooku.
Mirsad has openly admitted his campaign does not have the financial resources to put together a media campaign that could compete head-to-head with the established political parties in his quest to become the next president of Bosnia and Herzegovina.To do so they would need somewhere in the neighborhood $300,000-$400,000 US.In lieu of the realities of the situation he and his staff have come up with a unique and innovative approach to allocating what funds they do have.
Razvoj strategije i raspodjela finansija u kandidaturi Mirsada Hadžikadića za predsjednika Bosne i Hercegovine
Mirsad je otvoreno priznao da njegova kampanja nema financijska sredstva za osmišljavanje medijske kampanje koja bi se mogla ravnopravno natjecati sa afirmisanim političkim strankama u njegovom nastojanju da postane sljedeći predsjednik Bosne i Hercegovine. Da bi to učinili, trebalo bi im oko 300.000 do 400.000 američkih dolara. S obzirom na realnost situacije, on i njegovo osoblje osmislili su jedinstven i inovativan pristup raspodjeli sredstava kojima raspolažu.
Be it a town hall meeting, rally or debate, Mirsad is well aware of the challenges of crafting a message that can be welcomed by an incredibly diverse electorate.An electorate made up of different nationalities, religious affiliations, and members of different political organizations, never knowing exactly what that mix might be at the next rally or debate.We talked about his campaign’s approach to delivering this message and how his team goes about gauging how receptive any given audience has been be it at a town hall meeting, rally or a televised debate.
Mirsad Hadžikadić: Formiranje poruke predsjedničke kampanje za raznoliko i kompleksno biračko tijelo
Bilo da se radi o javnoj tribini, predizbornom skupu ili debati, Mirsad je itekako svjestan izazova stvaranja poruke koju će prihvatiti nevjerojatno raznoliko biračko tijelo. To je biračko tijelo sačinjeno od različitih nacionalnosti, vjerskih pripadnosti i članova različitih političkih organizacija, nikad ne znajući kakva bi kombinacija mogla biti na sljedećem skupu ili debati. Razgovarali smo o pristupu njegove kampanje prenošenju ove poruke te o tome kako njegov tim ocjenjuje koliko je otvorena publika na javnim tribinama, skupovima i televizijskim debatama.