Denis Zvizdić (born 9 June 1964) is a Bosnian politician who served as
from 2015 to 2019. He has been serving as member of the national
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...
since 2019. He also served as
Premier of Sarajevo Canton from 2003 to 2006.
Zvidzić was a prominent figure of the
Party of Democratic Action, until he left it in 2021 to join the
People and Justice
People and Justice (, abbreviated NiP) is a centre-right political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The party was founded on 12 March 2018.
History
People and Justice (NiP) was founded on 12 March 2018, after Elmedin Konaković resigned from al ...
party.
Early life and education
Zvizdić was born on 9 June 1964 in
Sarajevo
Sarajevo ( ), ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'' is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 2 ...
. He studied at the Faculty of Architecture of the
University of Sarajevo
The University of Sarajevo (Bosnian language, Bosnian, Croatian language, Croatian and Serbian language, Serbian: ''Univerzitet u Sarajevu'' / Sveučilište u Sarajevu / Универзитет у Сарајеву) is a List of universities in Bo ...
, where he earned a PhD and in 2007 became a professor of architecture.
Early career
Zvizdić had worked at the Ministry for Environment and Construction of the
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, Republika Bosna i Hercegovina, Република Босна и Херцеговина, separator=" / ") was a state in Southeastern Europe, existing from 1992 to 1995. It is the direct lega ...
and of the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Serbo-Croatian: ''Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine'' / ''Федерација Босне и Херцеговине'') is one of the two Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, entities composing Bo ...
(FBiH), as well as for the
Unioninvest Sarajevo Company prior to his political career. He was also Co-Director of the National Action Plan for Protection of Environment.
Early political career
In 2003, Zvizdić became
Premier of the Sarajevo Canton - his first major political appointment - and in 2006 speaker of the
Sarajevo Canton
The Sarajevo Canton, officially the Canton of Sarajevo (; ; ), is one of the ten cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its cantonal seat is the city of Sarajevo, also the capital city of Bosnia and Herzeg ...
al Assembly.
He was then a member of the Federal Parliament ( House of Peoples, 2006–10; House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...
, 2010–14).[
Zvizdić was a member of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) from 1991 until 2021, after which he joined the ]People and Justice
People and Justice (, abbreviated NiP) is a centre-right political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The party was founded on 12 March 2018.
History
People and Justice (NiP) was founded on 12 March 2018, after Elmedin Konaković resigned from al ...
party. He was a member of its Presidency from 2005. In 2009, Zvizdić was appointed Chair of the SDA Council and joined the party's Main Board in 2013. He was a member of the party Cantonal Board in Sarajevo (2004–05), and prior to that member of the Sarajevo Centar Municipal Board (2000–03).
Chairman of the Council of Ministers (2015–2019)
On 31 March 2015, in a vote in the national House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...
determining the new , 28 out of the 42 Parliament
In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
members voted for Zvizdić, 5 voted against and 2 abstained. Zvizdić promised that his government would improve action on the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union.[
During his premiership, the SAA agreement with the EU entered into force on 15 July 2015, and on 15 February 2016, Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted its EU membership application.
In July 2016, Zvizdić's government approved a comprehensive anti-discrimination law which has to do with LGBT rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, banning discrimination on account of one's sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. Later on, the Parliament adopted the law. This came after the ''Law Against Discrimination'' was adopted in 2009, prohibiting discrimination based on sex, gender expression and sexual orientation. Furthermore, the law forbids harassment and segregation on the basis of sexual orientation. The country's desire to join the EU has also played an important role in the government's approach to LGBT rights.
After the 2018 general election and with a newly established ]government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...
, on 23 December 2019, Zvizdić was succeeded as Chairman of the Council of Ministers by Zoran Tegeltija of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats
The Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (; abbr. СНСД or SNSD) is a Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serb Serbian nationalism, nationalist political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Founded in 1996, it is the governing party in Republika ...
(SNSD).
Personal life
On 8 February 2021, it was confirmed that Zvizdić tested positive for COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
, amid its pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
References
External links
Denis Zvizdić
at imovinapoliticara.cin.ba
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zvizdic, Denis
1964 births
Living people
Politicians from Sarajevo
Architects from Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina Muslims
University of Sarajevo alumni
Academic staff of the University of Sarajevo
Politicians of the Bosnian War
Politicians of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Party of Democratic Action politicians
People and Justice politicians
Members of the House of Representatives (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Chairmen of the House of Representatives (Bosnia and Herzegovina)