Recipients of Reduced Subsidies in Sarajevo Canton: We Warned About Suspicious Procedures and Minister Bošnjak's Incompetence

(Patria) - Recipients of reduced subsidies for property purchases have issued a statement following the arrest of the Minister of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction, and Environmental Protection of Sarajevo Canton, Bojan Bošnjak, whose ministry last year announced a Public Call that angered and led to protests from this population.

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ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS APPOINTMENT Suspect Bojan Bošnjak Handed Over to Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office

(Patria) - Suspect Bojan Bošnjak was handed over to the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office this evening. After being questioned by the acting prosecutor, a decision will be made regarding further measures against the suspect, the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office announced. Bošnjak was arrested in the Inc operation

In their statement, they reminded that the subsidy recipients, during four organized protests since January of this year, had warned about the suspicious procedures and incompetence of Bošnjak, "who never deigned to respond to any invitation for a meeting, email, nor showed any willingness to resolve the problem faced by over 1,000 young families."

"We remind you that the Sarajevo Canton Government in 2023, despite announcements that these subsidies would increase to 12,000 KM due to inflation, paid out the lowest subsidy amount since 2017, when the program began. For just over 1,000 young people, 4,816 KM each was paid.

The previous practice was to pay 10,000 KM. The Sarajevo Canton Government also made a series of errors in the 2023 Public Call, and no one has yet taken public responsibility for it.

They justify this by implementing the Ombudsman's recommendations for human rights to abolish the criterion requiring residence in Sarajevo Canton for more than three years.

Deputies agree that this criterion has done more harm than good, as the Ombudsman's recommendation was not binding, and individuals who did not even live in Sarajevo Canton before the announcement of the competition entered the race for subsidies," state the recipients of the reduced subsidies.

They highlighted several examples by which, according to them, Bojan Bošnjak's tenure in politics remains notable:

- A severance package of over 50,000 KM received after leaving his ministerial position in Zenica-Doboj Canton;

- The destruction of the protected area of the Olympic beauty Bjelašnica;

- Inability to resolve the heating issue for the residents of Vogošća - a basic human need;

- Inability to resolve the safety of homes of Sarajevo residents affected by the imminent landslide on Trebević;

- Theft of subsidies intended for young people in Sarajevo Canton who are resolving their housing issues for the first time;

- Ignoring the conclusion of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly which instructs the relevant minister Bošnjak and the Sarajevo Canton Government to pay the remaining subsidies to young people.

All the aforementioned problems, as stated by the recipients of the reduced subsidies, were created and/or not resolved by Minister Bošnjak.

"Bošnjak did not even feel the need to address the citizens who are suffering the consequences of his negligence and, as we now see, potential criminal activity," emphasize the recipients of the reduced subsidies.

They also highlighted some statements by Bošnjak and his colleagues concerning subsidies for young people.

- The Government has made efforts to adequately distribute the available funds to all applicants. The Government will, in the future, increase this amount again in accordance with its capabilities, if possible.

I say, all this will be discussed once the new draft budget for 2025 is adopted, and then we will talk about it - said the Minister of Labor, Social Policy, Displaced Persons, and Refugees of Sarajevo Canton, Enda Pavić-Pečenković.

They quoted the independent deputy in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, Elza Gaković:

"My stance could have been seen earlier in the voting. I am truly in favor. I am someone who comes from, perhaps I have crossed that line a bit, but I know and understand the position of every young person in Sarajevo Canton who wants to stay here and build their family. The system must be supportive. I am in favor, and I voted that way. If needed, I will communicate my stance in that direction in the future."

Deputy Admela Hodžić reiterated her previous stance that she will not support the draft budget for 2025 until additional funds are found for young people in Sarajevo Canton who applied and successfully passed the selection procedure for subsidizing their first property in 2023.

"Finally, from the official stance of a part of the 'Trojka' coalition, we can clearly conclude that there is no support for the draft and adoption of the budget for 2025 until the conclusion of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, which mandates the payment of remaining subsidies to young people, is implemented.

Unfortunately, the relevant minister Bošnjak does not plan to implement the said conclusion, and the Sarajevo Canton Government, led by Prime Minister Uk, is consciously sending the budget for adoption, and its adoption is doomed to failure in advance.

We hope that the healthier part of the 'Trojka' will decisively demand the resignation of Minister Bošnjak, as well as Prime Minister Uk, so that moral, honorable, and responsible individuals can take these positions and begin to solve the real current problems.

However, if we had such people in the positions within the Sarajevo Canton Government, we probably wouldn't have reached a situation where the entire Sarajevo Canton Government is defending the honor of the arrested Minister Bošnjak, which is unacceptable (and they used to be disgusted by such things when they were in 'opposition')," state the recipients of reduced subsidies for property purchases in Sarajevo Canton.

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Sarajevo Canton Government and Our Party Respect Presumption of Innocence in Minister Bošnjak's Case and Believe in His Honor and Innocence

(Patria) - The Sarajevo Canton Government and Our Party, which nominated him, have also commented on the arrest of the Minister of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction, and Environmental Protection of Sarajevo Canton, Bojan Bošnjak. 'The Government

Let us remind you that as part of the Incitat 2 operation, acting on the order of the acting prosecutor, investigators from the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) arrested the Minister of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction, and Environmental Protection of Sarajevo Canton, Bojan Bošnjak, yesterday.

- The Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office suspects Bošnjak of giving a positive opinion on the environmental impact assessment report, through which he intended to legalize illegal construction projects on Bjelašnica for the suspects Ibri Berilo and Nađa Milišić - said the spokesperson for the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office, Azra Bavčić, yesterday.