MP Engagement: Mehmedović, Žuljević, and Zubić Communicate Most with Citizens

In the first three months of the internet platform javnarasprava.ba, Šemsudin Mehmedović, an MP of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has proven to be the parliamentarian most willing to answer citizens' questions, announced the Association of Citizens Why Not, reports the Patria News Agency.  

Mehmedović, for example, openly supported the abolition of fees for work in management and supervisory boards and other bodies during working hours, as well as a reduction in salaries for elected officials during their mandate. In addition to Mehmedović, Aner Žuljević and Jasmina Zubić (SDP) also responded to all questions posed.

The Public Debate platform, whose goal is the direct involvement of citizens in decision-making processes in the parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has processed over 150 laws and 500 specific topics related to laws since its inception in September this year.

The most interesting content for users of social networks and the website included: The Draft Budget of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2016; The Draft Law on Labor of Republika Srpska; The Draft Law Amending the Law on Protection against Family Violence in FBiH; The Draft Law on Non-Working Days during Religious Holidays in BiH, and the Draft Law on the Conversion of Loans in Swiss Francs to Convertible Marks of BiH.

Citizens from all over BiH massively asked parliamentarians questions on the website, and commented on and shared laws and related specific areas on social networks. A total of 2232 questions were asked, and 138 answers were given. The first answer to a question was provided by Sanel Razić, an MP of the Alliance for a Better Future (SBB) in the House of Representatives of FBiH, who responded to a question regarding the Draft Law Amending the Law on the Allocation of Public Revenue in FBiH, expressing his support for this draft law in his response.

The MPs from both houses of the state parliament who responded to citizens' questions at the highest percentage are: Šemsudin Mehmedović (SDA), who was asked 25 questions and answered 100 percent; Mirsad Mešić (SDP) with 16 answers to 17 questions asked; Mario Karamatić (HSS) with 10 answers to 12 questions asked; and Nikola Lovrinović (HDZ) with four answers to six questions asked.

In the National Assembly and the Council of Peoples of Republika Srpska, the only one who responded to questions was Kemo Čamdžija from SDA, with nine answers to 11 questions asked. In both houses of the Parliament of FBiH, Aner Žuljević and Jasmina Zubić (SDP) were the only ones who responded to all questions – Žuljević to eight and Zubić to nine. Mirvet Beganović (Labour Party of BiH), who answered 10 out of 12 questions, and Rasim Kantarević, also from the Labour Party, who answered five out of six questions, as well as Admir Hadžipašić (A-SDA) with seven answers to nine questions asked, Ismet Osmanović (SDA) with nine answers to 11 questions asked, and Alma Kratina (DF) with six answers to nine questions asked, were also MPs who responded to citizens' questions at a high percentage.

Interestingly, MPs from SBB, HDZ 1990, SNSD, SDS, DNS, DF, BPS, A-SDA, and PDP at the state level did not deem it necessary to answer even a single question from citizens, despite the significant interest and the total number of inquiries, according to the statement.