Heated debate on budget: Amidžić claims urgent procedure is the only logical one, SDA responds that it was conceived by SNSD

(Patria) - The House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH is considering the Bill on the Budget of Institutions and International Obligations of BiH for 2025 under an urgent procedure at today's session.

The urgent procedure was supported by representatives of HDZ, SNSD, SDP, and DF, while SDA abstained, and representatives of NiP, Naša stranka, and opposition parties from RS (PDP, SDS, Za pravdu i red) voted against, writes Faktor.

This was preceded by a heated debate.

The Minister of Finance and Treasury of BiH, Srđan Amidžić, stated that the urgent procedure is the only logical one, considering the month we are in.

The head of the SNSD caucus, Sanja Vulić, asserted that the Budget Bill is constitutional and should be adopted urgently due to 22,000 employees in BiH institutions who should receive 1,000 KM in aid and an increased salary considering the increased base.

SDA representative Safet Kešo assessed that it was a pleasure to hear Vulić's presentation and the words "with which, at the cost of her life, she and SNSD defend the Constitution and laws of BiH".

- I would like them to continue like this in the future because we have witnessed attacks on the constitutional order of our country by the politics they represent. If they sincerely support the Constitution and laws, let us remind them that the already adjudicated debt of Republika Srpska, commanded by the politics in whose name she speaks, has exceeded one hundred million KM, and the entire problem with BHRT is related to that - added Kešo.

The Chairperson of the SDA caucus, Šerif Špago, said that the budget was conceived by SNSD and that it does not include multi-year projects for the Armed Forces of BiH, and that the vote on it is proof of who has influence in the ruling majority and who executes orders from stronger partners, alluding to the Trojka.

The head of the NiP caucus, Nihad Omerović, emphasized that they will support the budget that includes cultural institutions and BHRT.

Let us remind you, the budget that is before the representatives today was adopted by the Council of Ministers of BiH. Ministers from Trojka voted in favor, except for Edin Forto (NS). It does not include cultural institutions or BHRT.

NES representative Jasmin Emrić reminded Vulić that "nothing here is legal" because the Council of Ministers of BiH was obliged to submit the budget for this year to the Presidency of BiH by October 15 last year.

- It was urgent then. Absurd, you are telling us today that it is urgent. Of course, it is urgent because it is the end of the year, but you are most responsible - added Emrić.

Mladen Bosić, an SDS representative, said something similar, and SNSD's Miroslav Vujičić responded that SNSD is the opposition in the House of Representatives.

During the debate on the budget itself, after the urgent procedure was adopted by the votes of HDZ, SNSD, SDP, and DF representatives, SDA representative Edin Ramić asked if it was a mistake that the budget shows zero KM for the Regional Housing Program for refugees and displaced persons.

His colleague Midhat Čaušević raised an objection regarding new employment, and the objection concerned those "who advocated that Bosniaks are in deficit".

- I made an analysis, and through the ministries headed by ministers from the Serb people, there will be 23 new employees, where ministers from the Croat people have 31 new employees, and where there are only two from the Bosniak people. You see how the ministers fought for the position of Bosniaks - added Čaušević.

Representatives also commented on the fact that with this year's budget, ministers are also introduced as officials who can independently spend funds from the current reserve for various associations, individuals, organizations...

- This is not good practice - emphasized SDA representative Šemsudin Dedić, drawing attention to the fact that for the past three years, funds have been planned for a larger number of employees than there are, as well as the need to review multi-year projects for which funds are transferred from budget to budget, and these projects are clearly not ready.