Center of Banja Luka in darkness due to conflict between city and entity authorities

(Patria) - The center of Banja Luka is in darkness tonight without public lighting, due to a conflict between the city and entity authorities of the RS over the distribution of VAT, reports RSE.

The National Assembly of the RS is expected to discuss next Tuesday a proposal to amend the Law on the Budget System, which envisions reducing the funds that local communities in the RS with more than 100,000 inhabitants receive from VAT, and redirecting them to underdeveloped municipalities.

The only cities in the RS affected by this are Banja Luka and Bijeljina, where the government is not held by the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), the party of entity President Milorad Dodik, which is in power at the entity level.

Because of this, Banja Luka Mayor Draško Stanivuković announced certain moves.

- Tonight we are turning off public lighting around the buildings of republican institutions so that the people can see who is bringing darkness to Banja Luka. We are closing the parking lot near the Government building, one by one, and all streets around the Government will become pedestrian zones - Stanivuković said at a press conference in Banja Luka.

Among other things, he added that he would cut off heating to entity institutions that have debts.

Currently, the Government of the RS and the President's Palace, the main city street, Kralja Petra I Karađorđevića, as well as the main pedestrian zone on Veselina Masleše Street, are in darkness.

Stanivuković was called out on the X network by entity President Milorad Dodik, telling him that "Banja Luka has been in darkness since he became mayor."