Čavalić: If both houses do not adopt the decision on temporary financing by January 31, the federal level will be in a blockade

(Patria) - Federal MP Admir Čavalić (SBiH) and economic expert commented on the adoption of the new FBiH Budget for 2024. Legal deadlines have been missed, and despite the fact that 2024 has begun, there is still no draft Budget.

"In accordance with the Law on Budgets in FBiH (Article 15), the FBiH Government was obliged to submit the Draft Budget to the Parliament by November 5, 2023. That deadline was missed. Today is January 5, 2024, and there is no draft or proposal for the budget in the parliamentary procedure. There is no working body in the Federal Parliament that can block something that is not in procedure, i.e., from the position of the Parliament, as well as the FBiH Government (because it has not been considered), it practically does not exist.

Since the second deadline - December 31 for the adoption of the budget - has also been missed, the FBiH Government has submitted a Proposal for a decision on temporary financing. It is interesting that the FBiH Government stated in the explanation of this decision that it will prepare the Draft Budget. I welcome this practice because in this way we respect procedures and budget principles (transparency, participation, etc.). True, this should have been done by November 5, but what is done is done. The decision arrived in the parliamentary procedure on December 30 - which means it was impossible for both houses to adopt it by the end of the year. I emphasize that this is a proposal, not a final decision, because the Parliament adopts it (Article 35 of the Law on Budgets in FBiH). So, FBiH is not yet in a state of temporary financing. Also, this decision was not on the agenda of the Legislative-Legal Commission (which did not have a quorum) on January 4 this year," explains Čavalić.

The next two scheduled sessions of the Federal Parliament are: January 10 (continuation) and January 22 (regular).

"These sessions do not include the consideration of the Proposal for a Decision on Temporary Financing of FBiH. If this decision is not adopted in both houses of the Federal Parliament by January 31, then from February 1, the federal level will be in complete blockade. Those who (in)directly depend on the budget pay the highest price for this. Time is running out. Therefore, I call on the leaderships of the working bodies and the leadership of the Federal Parliament to enable the consideration of the Proposal for a Decision on Temporary Financing of FBiH as soon as possible. The aforementioned should be considered as one agenda item - both in the working bodies and in the sessions of both houses of Parliament. Why? Because at this moment it is paramount for citizens, businessmen, taxpayers, and all those who (in)directly depend on the federal budget.

Amending the Rules of Procedure is absolutely irrelevant in the context of the real needs of our citizens, and economic problems/challenges should be separated from political ones. Responsibility is clear and there are no excuses," states Čavalić.