Nedžad Branković
Nedžad Branković (born 28 December 1962, Višegrad, Yugoslavia) is a Bosnian politician from the Party of Democratic Action (SDA). He was the premier of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina from March 2007 until resigning in May 2009.[1]
Biography
Branković grew up in Višegrad and graduated in civil engineering from the University of Sarajevo in 1987, after which he worked for the Institute for Transport in Sarajevo (IPSI). He served in the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992-1993, being awarded the Golden Lily. [1]
From 1993 Branković served as director-general of the Railways of Bosnia and Herzegovina public company. In 1998 he was appointed general manager of the Energoinvest company. As a member of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Branković was twice elected to the House of Representatives of the Federation entity. In 1999 he also obtained a Master's degree from the Faculty for Transport and Communications of the University of Sarajevo.[1]
From 2003 till 2007 Branković was appointed Federation entity Minister of Transport and Communications. In those same years, he obtained a PhD from the Faculty for Transport and Communications of the Sarajevo University, where he became senior assistant lecturer.[1]
In March 2007, Branković was appointed as prime minister of the entity. [1] He was forced to resign and replaced by his party two years later, following a scandal concerning undue access to public housing.
Branković was also president of the Football Club FK Željezničar Sarajevo, and member of the BiH Olympic Committee.[1]
Controversies
The Center for Investigative Reporting - Bosnia-Herzegovina looked at how Branković was able to earn a practically free apartment from the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina. [2] They also chronicled his conflicts of interest in his ownership of a privatization fund management firm.[3] Brankovic had to resign and was replaced by his own party as Federation entity prime minister.
Branković has also been condemned for selling debts owed to Bosnia by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the company FG Hemisphere. Bosnian police claimed Branković acted illegally in selling the debt, which was owned by the country, but sold personally, and recommended he be charged. No charges have been brought.[4]