Predrag Puharić

Early Life and Education

Predrag Puharić was born in 1977 in Sarajevo, in what was then the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and is present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina. He completed his higher education at the University of Sarajevo's Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies.

Puharić pursued advanced international training in cybersecurity, becoming a Chevening Cyber Security Fellow at Cranfield University in the United Kingdom. He also served as a CRDF International Cybersecurity Fellow at Purdue University in the United States. Additionally, he participated in the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).

Career

Over the course of his professional life, Puharić worked extensively in the IT sector, specializing in cybersecurity. His technical expertise and international fellowship experience positioned him as a recognized figure in the Bosnian security community before his transition into public office.

Political Career

Puharić is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In November 2024, the party nominated him for the office of mayor of Sarajevo following the departure of his predecessor, Benjamina Karić, who had been elected municipal mayor of Novo Sarajevo in the 2024 municipal elections. The Sarajevo City Council formally appointed Puharić as the 40th mayor of Sarajevo on 29 November 2024, a position he held on an interim basis pending the formation of a new City Council and the appointment of a permanent mayor.

Following a period of lengthy coalition negotiations, Samir Avdić, a member of the People and Justice party, was elected mayor by the City Council on 16 July 2025. Puharić was subsequently appointed deputy mayor of Sarajevo, serving in that role alongside Mirela Džehverović from July 2025 onward.

Personal Life

Puharić is married to Dragana Puharić, and together they have a son. The family resides in Sarajevo.