House of Peoples of BiH Parliament: Will the 2022 Budget with increased official salaries be adopted

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – The session of the BiH Parliament has begun, attended by 11 delegates – 4 from the Croat Caucus, 4 from the Bosniak Caucus, and 3 from the Serb Caucus. Dragan Čović, member of the Collegium of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament, is not attending the session.

There is only one item on the agenda: the Bill on the Budget of Institutions and International Obligations for 2022.

Delegate Denis Bećirović requested that the newly emerged situation regarding the adoption of the Bill on the 2022 Budget be considered, with a special focus on the immoral increase in salaries for elected officials, but this proposal did not receive the necessary support.

The Speaker of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament, Nikola Špirić, proposed shortening the amendment procedure to one hour, after which the Finance and Budget Committee will convene.

Delegate Zlatko Miletić criticized the increase in costs and expenditures for mobile phones, technical maintenance, and other expenses.

Denis Bećirović stated that all deadlines for proposing the budget have been missed, and that the BiH Parliament should have adopted the budget by December 31.

"I will not even talk about the political aspect; the security aspect has also been compromised, but separatist policies bear full responsibility for that," said Bećirović.

He also analyzed the increase in expenditures, amounting to millions.

"While those who do very little or nothing are clearly being rewarded, the Directorate for European Integration has a modest increase," he said.

He added that BiH has a modest budget when it comes to defense.

The Minister of Finance of BiH, Vjekoslav Bevanda, stated that the base amount is the same for everyone.

"The base amount was adopted at the Council of Ministers, as was the Global Fiscal Framework at the Fiscal Council. I have nothing to justify. I have respected all laws, I have not broken any law," said Bevanda.

After the discussion, a break was called for amendments, which will be considered by the Finance and Budget Committee.