Fadil Novalić

Fadil Novalić (born 25 September 1959) is a Bosnian politician who is the 9th and current Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina[3]

Fadil Novalić
9th Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Assumed office
31 March 2015
PresidentMarinko Čavara
Preceded byNermin Nikšić[1]
Personal details
Born (1959-09-25) 25 September 1959
Gradačac, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavia
NationalityBosniak
Political partyParty of Democratic Action
Spouse(s)Selvija Novalić
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Sarajevo
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionEntrepreneur, mechanical engineer
Military service
Allegiance Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Branch/serviceArmy of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Years of service1992–1995
RankSoldier
Unit107th Gradačac brigade[2]
Battles/warsBosnian War

He is a member of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA).

Career

Novalić is an Entrepreneur and a mechanical engineer by profession. He is credited for reviving the automotive industry in his hometown of Gradačac after serving in the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the war.

Novalić graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Sarajevo in 1983. He then worked for 17 years in the company TMD "Gradačac Famos", going from constructor to director. In 2000 he moved on to head the company TMD "Automotive Industry" ("Cimos" TMD). He was dismissed from Cimos in 2013 for alleged abuse of powers, despite protests by employees in his support. He also founded at least seven other companies, including "Supfina". He was on the supervisory boards of the companies "Wagner - Automotive" and "Namještaj" d. d.[4]

Novalić also chaired the Association of Businessmen of Gradačac and the football club Zvijezda Gradačac.[4]

Since 2015, he has been a member of the Party of Democratic Action, and since before he has been the chairman of the Board of the Council for Economic and Financial Policy of the Party. Since 2019, he has been a member of the SDA Presidency. Novalić has authored much of SDA's economic programme.[4]

In March 2015 he was appointed by SDA to head the government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, in coalition with the HDZ BiH party. He remained in office after the 2018 elections, in caretaker functions.

"Ventilators affair" corruption scandal

Novalić was detained for questioning and then arrested on 28 May 2020, for his role in illegal import of medical ventilators by "FH Srebrna malina", a raspberry processing firm recruited for that purpose by the Federal Department of Civil Protection.[5]

100 ventilators were procured from China at a price of 10.5 million KM. Ventilators turned out to "not meet even a minimum of necessary characteristics for adequate treatment" of COVID-19 patients or for general use in intensive-care units.

Also arrested alongside Novalić were the suspended Director of the Federal Department for Civilian Protection Fahrudin Solak and the CEO and co-owner of the "FH Srebrna malina", Fikret Hodžić.

All three are under the investigation for associating for the purpose of committing a criminal offense, abuse of office, receiving a reward for trading in influence, money laundering and forgery or destruction of business documents and trade books.[6]

Personal life

Fadil is married to Selvija Novalić with whom he has three daughters.[4]

On 13 July 2020, it was confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19, amid its pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina;[7] by 26 July, he recovered.[8]

References
  1. "Fadil Novalić primio dužnost premijera od Nermina Nikšića" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  2. "Fadil Novalić". fbihvlada.gov.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. E.F. (31 March 2015). "Federacija BiH konačno dobila novu Vladu" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  4. Centre for Investigative Journalism
  5. Reuters Staff (29 May 2020). "Bosnia police question regional PM over import of defective ventilators". Reuters. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  6. Cuckić, Nikola (5 June 2020). ""Ventilators" affair in BiH – fight against corruption or another political quarrel?". European Western Balkans. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  7. I.P. (13 July 2020). "Fadil Novalić pozitivan na koronavirus" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  8. A.D. (26 July 2020). "Premijer Fadil Novalić izliječen od koronavirusa, danas napušta izolatorij" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Nermin Nikšić		 Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
2015–present		 Incumbent
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