Nermin Nikà ¡ià(; born 27 December 1960) is a Bosnian politician serving as Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina since April 2023, having previously served from 2011 to 2015. He has also served as president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP BiH) since 2014, and was a member of the national House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022 as well.
Born in Konjic in 1960, Nikà ¡iàholds a degree in law from the University of Mostar. Prior to the Bosnian War, he worked in Konjic as clerk of town planning, construction and housing, as well as communal services, marketing and catering inspecting. Nikà ¡iàwas Head of the Inspection from 1990 until 1992.
In 2000, Nikà ¡iàwas appointed deputy mayor of Konjic, but soon resigned following his election to the Federal House of Representatives. In March 2011, after a year-long government formation, he was appointed federal prime minister, serving until March 2015. Nikà ¡iàwas elected to the national House of Representatives in the 2018 general election. In April 2023, following the 2022 general election, he once again became federal prime minister.
Nikà ¡iàjoined the SDP BiH in 1993. In December 2014, he was elected as its president, following the resignation of Zlatko Lagumdà ¾ija.
Nikà ¡iàwas born on 27 December 1960 in Konjic. He attended elementary and high school in his birth town. He graduated from Faculty of Law of University of Mostar in 1986.
From 1988, Nikà ¡iàwas employed in Konjic, where he worked as clerk of town planning, construction and housing, as well as communal services, marketing and catering inspecting. From 1990 until 1992, he was Head of the Inspection.
In 1993, Nikà ¡iàjoined the Social Democratic Party (SDP BiH). One year later, he became president of the SDP BiH in Konjic. During the Bosnian War, he served as assistant to the commander of the 7th Brigade for legal jobs and assistant to the commander of the 43rd Brigade for moral.
From 1995 until 1998, Nikà ¡iàwas vice president of the executive committee of the Municipality of Konjic, and from 1998 until 2000 he was head of General Administration, Housing and Communal Services and Inspections. In 2000, he was appointed deputy mayor of Konjic, but soon resigned following the 2000 parliamentary election and his election to the Federal House of Representatives.
From 2002 to 2006, Nikà ¡iàwas vice president of the SDP BiH club in parliament. In 2004, he became president of the SDP BiH in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. In November 2006, Nikà ¡iàwas president of the SDP BiH parliamentary club. On 7 December 2014, he became president of the SDP BiH, succeeding Zlatko Lagumdà ¾ija.
On 17 March 2011, after a political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nikà ¡iàwas appointed Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The political crisis occurred after the 2010 general election when major parties were unable to come to an agreement to form the new government. He served as federal prime minister until 31 March 2015. In the 2018 general election, Nikà ¡iàwas elected to the national House of Representatives. He failed to get re-elected to the House of Representatives in the 2022 general election.
On 28 April 2023, following interventions by High Representative Christian Schmidt due to months of political deadlock after the 2022 general election, Nikà ¡iàsucceeded Fadil Novaliàto once again serve as federal prime minister. Nikà ¡iàpledged that economic reform, further infrastructure development and fight against corruption would be the main goals of his government.
Former federal prime minister, Fadil NovaliÃÂ, who Nikà ¡iàsucceeded in April 2023 after Christian Schmidt's intervention, at first refused to concede the power, and continues contesting his forceable deposing as illegal and unconstitutional. Nikà ¡iÃÂ's appointment was also deemed unconstitutional by the opposition, but was afterwards accepted.
Controversies abound around Nikà ¡iÃÂ's cabinet members too, some of whom, like the minister of culture and sports, openly support war criminals; others, like the interior minister, are convicted felons. In addition to numerous intellectuals, Bosnia and Herzegovina's prominent public figures who voiced their fierce opposition to Nikà ¡iÃÂ's vexed cabinet include film director Jasmila à ½baniÃÂ, poet Abdulah Sidran, and film and stage actor Emir Hadà ¾ihafizbegoviÃÂ.
Nermin is married to Nadija Nikà ¡iÃÂ, and together they have two children, a daughter Najra and a son Haris.