Delegates spend time on discussions and correcting misinformation, budget debate has not yet begun

(Patria) - Not even an hour into the session of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament, the agenda for the emergency session of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament, where the Draft Budget for 2025 is to be discussed, has not been adopted.

Some delegates proposed an addition to the agenda, followed by various replies and accusations among delegates.

Delegates from the Serb Club engaged in a discussion about who has three delegates and how, and who deceived whom.

Nenad Vuković (PDP), who joined the Serb Club instead of Snježana Novaković-Bursać, stated today that the fourth delegate, designated by SNSD, would determine their partners from the Federation of BiH.

Radovan Kovačević (SNSD) replied, emphasizing that the National Assembly of Republika Srpska voted and elected delegates to the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament.

Today's session is being closely monitored by trade unions of employees in BiH institutions, who will decide whether to organize protests on November 27 based on today's vote on the Budget.

Sredoje Nović also took the floor, inviting his colleagues from the Serb Club to jointly consider the points requested by Vuković and Nešković, and to defer them to another session.

Nović requested a ten-minute break but did not provide a reason.

After the break, delegates voted on the proposals for adding to the agenda. Delegates supported the addition to the agenda proposed by Želimir Nešković, with votes from four delegates of the Bosniak Club, two from the Serb Club, and Zlatko Miletić.

Delegate Marina Pendeš reacted, asking if this meant this point would be discussed first, or the Budget that was proposed as an item. She stated that the Rules of Procedure were being violated and criticized the Speaker of the House, Kemal Ademović.

Nikola Špirić reacted, stating that an attempt was clearly being made to discuss the Budget today, and requested a ten-minute break.

"Let's do the Budget, and then we will discuss other points in the Club. Let's resolve the issue we came for. Surely we are not going to outsmart each other today over the composition of a commission that has been working for three years. I propose that these be the last items and that we hold a Club session," Špirić said.

Želimir Nešković took the floor, stating that the Speaker had put the addition to the agenda to a vote.

"Don't be unserious. I am not an SNSD member, I am a member of the Serb Club, and I tell you now that I will not withdraw my proposal. If these technical issues are such a bridge and obstacle for you that you cannot get to the Budget, then I have no words," Nešković said.

Radovan Kovačević (SNSD) stated that Ademović had not specified which agenda item had been voted on.

"There is something called normative hierarchy of items. You are asking us to vote on changes to the agenda without us knowing which item should be discussed," Kovačević said.

Ademović called a ten-minute break for delegates to be provided with materials.