# Senad Šepić

Senad Šepić (born 24 December 1977) is a Bosnian politician who is the current president of the Independent Bloc and has been serving as a member of the national House of Representatives since 12 January 2012. He was a member of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) until 2017. Šepić was a prominent critic of party leader Bakir Izetbegović.
He has also served as member of the Federal House of Representatives from 28 October 2002 until 9 February 2007 and as Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs from 9 February 2007 to 12 January 2012.

## Personal life and early career

Šepić was born in Cazin, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, then part of SFR Yugoslavia. In the early 2000s, he was president of the SDA's youth organization. Šepić's parliamentary biography indicates that he was a member of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Sarajevo from 1997 to 2003, working as a history teacher. His online biography indicates that he received a history degree from the university in 2003 and a Master of Law degree in 2012.

## Political career

Šepić was elected to the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (one of the two entities that makes up the country Bosnia and Herzegovina) in the 2002 general election and was re-elected in 2006. He resigned his seat in 2007 when he was appointed as the country's Deputy minister of Civil affairs. His appointment was intended to provide Bosniak representation within the ministry, which was overseen by Minister of Civil Affairs Sredoje Nović.
In 2008, Bosnian prime minister Nikola Špirić sought to remove Šepić from office on the grounds that his father-in-law was the director of a utility company in Travnik. The state court subsequently ruled that Šepić was not in a conflict. Šepić was a candidate for security minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2009, but withdrew his name prior to the vote.
He was elected to the House of Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2010 general election, winning a seat in the first electoral division of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) won a single mandate for this division, and, as Šepić won more candidate preference votes than incumbent Husein Nanić, he was declared elected. He continued to serve as a deputy minister until 2012 and did not actually take his seat in parliament until standing down from this position. He was re-elected to the legislature in 2014.

### Within the SDA

Šepić joined the presidency of the SDA in 2001 and was a party vice-chair from 2009 to 2015. For many years, he was regarded as a stalwart ally of party leader Sulejman Tihić and a supporter of Tihić's bid to move the party in a centrist direction less dependent on religious identity. A January 2012 news report, however, describes him as having by this time fallen into Tihić's bad graces and as being aligned with Bakir Izetbegović's rival faction. Prior to the 2014 elections, Šepić openly announced that he had joined "Izetbegović's ranks." There was some speculation after the election that he could be appointed to cabinet as minister of civil affairs, but this did not occur.
Šepić's alliance with Izetbegović did not last long, and he was openly critical of the SDA's political maneuvering that led to the establishment of Denis Zvizdić's ministry on March 31, 2015. He accused his party of making too many concessions and remarked that the results gave the appearance of a victory for Bosnian Croat leader Dragan Čović at the expense of leading Bosniak politicians. In the same interview, Šepić said that the SDA should become a "modern, democratic, and pro-European centre-right party" consistent with Tihić's vision of the party.
In June 2015, Šepić joined with three other SDA parliamentarians to announce they would no longer follow the decisions of the SDA leadership; this followed contentious internal party elections that were won by Izetbegović's faction. Šepić, defeated in his bid for re-election as a vice-chair, accused the party leadership of being undemocratic and was quoted as saying, "There is a videotape clearly showing that those who were sitting inside counting the votes were actually not members of the polling boards." The four rebels did not actually leave the SDA, and as of 2016, the Bosnian parliamentary website indicates that Šepić is still a member of the party caucus. He left the party in 2017.

### Within the Independent Bloc

After leaving the SDA, Šepić was elected president of the then newly formed Independent Bloc.

## Views
### Views on the Bosnian constitution

Šepić has argued that Bosnia's constitution fails to protect the human rights of its citizens and has called for meaningful reforms to "[protect] the individual and collective rights of everyone living anywhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina" as well as to "return the decision-making process to the institutions of the system, to the Presidency, the parliament and the government."

## Electoral record

2014 Bosnia and Herzegovina State House of Representatives election results: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Division One :
| Party | Votes | % | Mandates |
| Party of Democratic Action | 34,111 | 27.70 | 1 |
| Party of Democratic Activity | 14,227 | 11.55 | 1 |
| HDZ–HSS–HKDU–HSP-AS BiH–HSP HB | 13,176 | 10.70 | 1 |
| Democratic Front | 13,119 | 10.65 | |
| Union for a Better Future of BiH | 11,602 | 9.42 | |
| Social Democratic Party | 11,336 | 9.20 | |
| Croatian Democratic Union 1990 | 5,895 | 4.79 | |
| Labour Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 5,612 | 4.56 | |
| Alliance of Independent Social Democrats | 4,143 | 3.36 | |
| SPP–SDU–DNZ | 3,890 | 3.16 | |
| Bosnian-Herzegovinian Patriotic Party-Sefer Halilović | 1,795 | 1.46 | |
| Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,420 | 1.15 | |
| People's Party for Work and Betterment | 1,273 | 1.03 | |
| Diaspora Party | 1,016 | 0.82 | |
| Social Democratic Union - Union for Us All | 250 | 0.20 | |
| Bosnian Party | 179 | 0.15 | |
| HSP–DSI | 121 | 0.10 | |
| Total valid votes | 123,165 | 100.00 | |
Party of Democratic Action candidate preference votes :
| Senad Šepić (elected) (incumbent) | 15,517 |
| Šemsudin Dedić | 11,737 |
| Amir Avdić | 10,333 |
| Maida Aldžić | 4,075 |
| Emina Musić | 3,822 |
| Merima Mulić | 2,877 |
Party of Democratic Activity candidate preference votes :
| Jasmin Emrić (elected) | 7,660 |
| Haris Ćoralić | 4,780 |
| Šerif Kaljiković | 3,172 |
| Dženita Velić | 2,480 |
| Nedžad Hadžić | 2,442 |
| Samir Suljkanović | 2,009 |
| Memnuna Mahić | 1,835 |
| Dilka Rubin | 1,764 |
HDZ–HSS–HKDU–HSP-AS BiH–HSP HB candidate preference votes :
| Borjana Krišto (elected) | 6,379 |
| Mato Franjičević | 3,104 |
| Petar Radoš | 2,739 |
| Ivica Pašalić-Lhotak | 2,705 |
| Marko Mamić | 594 |
| Iliana Dronjić | 461 |
| Slavko Galiot | 313 |
| Željko Škripić | 189 |
Democratic Front candidate preference votes :
| Rusmir Mujadžić | 3,371 |
| Zaharije Mesić | 2,355 |
| Emsud Zulić | 2,273 |
| Dinko Bećirspahić | 1,991 |
| Ivana Robović | 1,543 |
| Meho Dučanović | 1,423 |
| Sanja Kudrić | 1,226 |
| Franjka Konta | 1,118 |
Union for a Better Future of BiH candidate preference votes :
| Amir Harbaš | 3,908 |
| Midhat Dedić | 1,991 |
| Emira Komić | 1,540 |
| Nermina Islamović | 1,230 |
| Azema Smailović | 1,197 |
| Almir Redžić | 1,055 |
| Semir Mujadžić | 877 |
| Kemal Mržljak | 739 |
Social Democratic Party candidate preference votes :
| Hamdija Lipovača (incumbent) | 7,588 |
| Nermina Ćemalović | 1,711 |
| Suljo Suljić | 1,328 |
| Ibrahim Kamenjašević | 791 |
| Jasmina Begatović | 756 |
| Huska Jukić | 751 |
| Stevo Trninić | 674 |
| Ana Dolušić | 597 |
Croatian Democratic Union 1990 candidate preference votes :
| Zdravko Erceg | 2,953 |
| Grgo Radoš | 893 |
| Ante Janković | 873 |
| Lovro Karaula | 503 |
| Borka Vukadin | 442 |
| Mate Rebrina | 412 |
| Tanja Šantić | 306 |
| Jagoda Ljevak | 250 |
Labour Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina candidate preference votes :
| Elvira Abdić-Jelenović | 3,769 |
| Haris Muhamedagić | 1,091 |
Alliance of Independent Social Democrats candidate preference votes :
| Nikola Tadić | 1,364 |
| Zora Rodić | 1,091 |
| Dunja Dragaš | 988 |
SPP–SDU–DNZ candidate preference votes :
| Rifat Dolić | 2,696 |
| Sejfo Mustafić | 622 |
| Sabina Šabanagić | 288 |
| Anto Smoljo | 266 |
| Amra Veladžić | 210 |
| Vera Došenović | 184 |
| Muhamed Borić | 151 |
| Nevena Perkić | 130 |
Bosnian-Herzegovinian Patriotic Party-Sefer Halilović candidate preference votes :
| Esad Hajdarović | 735 |
| Jasmina Šepić | 420 |
Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina candidate preference votes :
| Fahrudin Ćemal | 1,163 |
People's Party for Work and Betterment candidate preference votes :
| Antonio Ivanković-Lijanović | 397 |
| Senad Ćatić | 223 |
| Božana Ćurić | 216 |
| Niko Teklić | 191 |
| Selma Pajalić | 118 |
Diaspora Party candidate preference votes :
| Senad Bajrić | 754 |
Social Democratic Union - Union for Us All candidate preference votes :
| Njiaz Ćoralić | 160 |
| Samira Alagić | 63 |
Bosnian Party candidate preference votes :
| Hase Muratović | 88 |
HSP–DSI candidate preference votes :
| Ivan Krolo | 86 |
2010 Bosnia and Herzegovina State House of Representatives election results: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Division One :
| Party | Votes | % | Mandates |
| Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 32,757 | 23.87 | 1 |
| Party of Democratic Action | 27,925 | 20.35 | 1 |
| Democratic People's Union | 14,238 | 10.38 | 1 |
| Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10,861 | 7.91 | |
| Party of Democratic Activity | 10,782 | 7.86 | |
| Union for a Better Future of BiH | 8,939 | 6.51 | |
| Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8,080 | 5.89 | |
| People's Party For Work And Betterment | 7,176 | 5.23 | |
| Croatian Coalition HDZ 1990–HSP BiH | 7,123 | 5.19 | |
| Alliance of Independent Social Democrats | 4,998 | 3.64 | |
| Democratic People's Alliance | 1,147 | 0.84 | |
| Our Party–New Socialist Party | 1,065 | 0.78 | |
| Bosnian-Herzegovinian Patriotic Party-Sefer Halilović | 872 | 0.64 | |
| Bosnian Party | 423 | 0.31 | |
| Social Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 357 | 0.26 | |
| Democratic Party of the Disabled | 256 | 0.19 | |
| Party for the People of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 225 | 0.16 | |
| Total valid votes | 137,224 | 100.00 | |
Party of Democratic Action candidate preference votes :
| Senad Šepić (elected) | 13,637 |
| Husein Nanić (incumbent) | 6,924 |
| Sanjin Halimović | 6,595 |
| Asima Husetić | 4,175 |
| Šefik Štulanović | 3,286 |
| Zejna Kadirić | 2,917 |
| Suada Dilaver | 1,753 |
Democratic People's Union candidate preference votes :
| Nermin Purić (elected) | 8,244 |
| Almir Pajazetović | 2,604 |
| Emina Keserović | 1,607 |
| Nura Kekić | 1,587 |
| Safet Huskić | 1,540 |
| Vera Došenović | 1,295 |
| Jasmin Durmić | 1,279 |
| Milenko Došen | 1,139 |
2006 Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives election results: Division One :
| Party Results | Votes | % | Direct mandates |
| Party of Democratic Action | 32,907 | 36.25 | 4 |
| Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina | 16,751 | 18.45 | 2 |
| Democratic People's Union | 15,206 | 16.75 | 2 |
| Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina–Socijaldemokrati BiH | 13,462 | 14.83 | 1 |
| Bosnian-Herzegovinian Patriotic Party-Sefer Halilović | 2,237 | 2.46 | |
| Alliance of Independent Social Democrats | 1,767 | 1.95 | |
| Evropska ekološka stranka E-5 | 1,537 | 1.69 | |
| Patriotski Blok: Bosnian Party–Social Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,283 | 1.41 | |
| People's Party For Work And Betterment | 1,145 | 1.26 | |
| Pensioners' Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,126 | 1.24 | |
| Bosanskohercegovačka stranka prava | 569 | 0.63 | |
| Liberal Democratic Party | 484 | 0.53 | |
| Pokret za promjene Bosne i Hercegovine | 459 | 0.51 | |
| Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina—Croatian Coalition: HNZ–HSP BiH | 411 | 0.45 | |
| Politički pokret mladih Bosne i Hercegovine | 351 | 0.39 | |
| Democratic Party of the Disabled | 249 | 0.27 | |
| Socialist Party | 212 | 0.23 | |
| Citizens' Democratic Party | 211 | 0.23 | |
| Narodna bošnjaka stranka | 198 | 0.22 | |
| Croats Together: HDZ 1990–HSS–HKDU–HDU–Demokrŝćani | 159 | 0.18 | |
| HSP Đapić–Jurišić and the New Croatian Initiative–Koalicija za jednakopravnost | 58 | 0.06 | |
| Total valid votes | 90,782 | 100.00 | |
Party of Democratic Action candidate preference votes :
| Senad Šepić (elected) (incumbent) | Senad Šepić (elected) (incumbent) | Senad Šepić (elected) (incumbent) | 9,950 |
| Edham Veladžić (elected) | Edham Veladžić (elected) | Edham Veladžić (elected) | 9,615 |
| Jasminka Durić (elected) | Jasminka Durić (elected) | Jasminka Durić (elected) | 9,523 |
| Ibrahim Nadarević (elected) (incumbent) | Ibrahim Nadarević (elected) (incumbent) | Ibrahim Nadarević (elected) (incumbent) | 7,214 |
| Sead Jusić | Sead Jusić | Sead Jusić | 6,511 |
| Amela Hadžić | Amela Hadžić | Amela Hadžić | 6,287 |
| Atif Hodžić | Atif Hodžić | Atif Hodžić | 5,334 |
| Jasmin Husetić | Jasmin Husetić | Jasmin Husetić | 4,437 |
| Mira Bjelac (elected to compensatory list seat) | Mira Bjelac (elected to compensatory list seat) | Mira Bjelac (elected to compensatory list seat) | 2,439 |
Democratic People's Union candidate preference votes :
| Hafeza Sabljaković (elected) | Hafeza Sabljaković (elected) | Hafeza Sabljaković (elected) | 7,905 |
| Nermin Purić (elected) | Nermin Purić (elected) | Nermin Purić (elected) | 3,717 |
| Fatma Koštić | Fatma Koštić | Fatma Koštić | 1,705 |
| Dino Miljković | Dino Miljković | Dino Miljković | 1,583 |
| Husein Keranović | Husein Keranović | Husein Keranović | 1,568 |
| Edin Kekić | Edin Kekić | Edin Kekić | 1,474 |
| Raska Ćerimović | Raska Ćerimović | Raska Ćerimović | 1,400 |
| Vojo Šljivar | Vojo Šljivar | Vojo Šljivar | 1,334 |
| Mersud Topić | Mersud Topić | Mersud Topić | 1,222 |
| Jasmin Durmić | Jasmin Durmić | Jasmin Durmić | 1,185 |
| Haseba Mokni-Miljković | Haseba Mokni-Miljković | Haseba Mokni-Miljković | 1,095 |
2002 Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives election results: Division One :
| Party Results | Votes | % | Direct mandates |
| Party of Democratic Action | 31,187 | 40.24 | 4 |
| Democratic People's Union | 15,237 | 19.66 | 2 |
| Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina | 11,855 | 15.29 | 2 |
| Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9,256 | 11.94 | 1 |
| Bosnian Party of Rights BiH | 1,574 | 2.03 | |
| Bosnian Party | 1,333 | 1.72 | |
| Alliance of Independent Social Democrats | 1,231 | 1.59 | |
| Liberal Democratic Party | 1,096 | 1.41 | |
| Stranka Penzionera Umirovljenika BiH | 1,086 | 1.40 | |
| Socialist Party | 503 | 0.65 | |
| Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina—Demokršcani—HNZ | 493 | 0.64 | |
| Bošnjaka narodna stranka | 343 | 0.44 | |
| New Croatian Initiative | 336 | 0.43 | |
| Bosnian-Herzegovinian Patriotic Party | 313 | 0.40 | |
| Завичајних социјалдемократа - Миле Марчета | 305 | 0.39 | |
| Workers' Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 298 | 0.38 | |
| Women's Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 240 | 0.31 | |
| Civic Democratic Party | 228 | 0.29 | |
| Pro-European Peoples' Party and Youth Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 216 | 0.28 | |
| Republikanci-SPP | 168 | 0.22 | |
| Croatian Peasant Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 138 | 0.18 | |
| Странка Девизних Штедиша Република Српска | 76 | 0.10 | |
| Total valid votes | 77,512 | 100.00 | |
Party of Democratic Action candidate preference votes :
| Ibrahim Nadarević (elected) | Ibrahim Nadarević (elected) | Ibrahim Nadarević (elected) | 8,779 |
| Husein Nanić (elected) | Husein Nanić (elected) | Husein Nanić (elected) | 6,795 |
| Senad Šepić (elected) | Senad Šepić (elected) | Senad Šepić (elected) | 6,773 |
| Mustafa Avdagić (elected) | Mustafa Avdagić (elected) | Mustafa Avdagić (elected) | 4,694 |
| Ejub Alagić | Ejub Alagić | Ejub Alagić | 4,670 |
| Azra Delić | Azra Delić | Azra Delić | 4,486 |
| Hamdija Grošić | Hamdija Grošić | Hamdija Grošić | 4,229 |
| Emilija Bajrić | Emilija Bajrić | Emilija Bajrić | 3,271 |
| Senada Mehdin | Senada Mehdin | Senada Mehdin | 2,911 |