Konaković: We are moving towards resolving corruption in public procurement

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - After the Sarajevo Canton Assembly adopted the Draft Law on Reporting, Determining the Origin, and Control of Assets of Elected Officials, Holders of Executive Functions, and Advisors of the Canton Sarajevo, which was one of the pre-election promises of People and Justice, this party announces work on resolving the issue of transparency in the public procurement system.

The President of People and Justice and the Speaker of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, Elmedin Konaković, has submitted a deputy initiative for the adoption of a decree that would further regulate the area of public procurement control in all institutions and bodies founded by the Canton Sarajevo.

“I propose the formation of a permanent commission or another working body, whose members would be representatives of the academic community, non-governmental organizations, the opposition, the Youth Council, and experts in the field of public procurement. Along with the existing Public Procurement Register, constant control and unimpeded access to all information will contribute to a significant reduction in corrupt practices in Canton Sarajevo,” Konaković’s initiative states.

According to expert assessments, the public procurement system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is characterized by constant violations of the Law on Public Procurement of BiH, which opens the door to multi-million dollar crime. Domestic experts, the EU Delegation, and representatives of the international community clearly identified the public procurement system as one of BiH's biggest problems in mid-2018, but BiH authorities have done nothing on this issue.

“We believe that, as with the consideration of the Draft Law on the Origin of Assets, various do-gooders will emerge who will tell us that we need a ‘systemic solution’, that higher levels of government are responsible for this and not the canton, that this is populism. And those same people who criticize us are precisely the government at all higher levels and for years have not only done nothing to change certain laws but are trying with all their might to prevent others who would do anything on this issue,” stated People and Justice.

One of the most important pre-election promises of People and Justice, the Law on Reporting, Determining the Origin, and Control of Assets of Elected Officials, Holders of Executive Functions, and Advisors of the Canton Sarajevo, has been adopted in draft form and is currently undergoing public debate. Transparency in the public procurement system is also one of the more important priorities of this party.

“We are among those who proposed and supported this law, but it is not our property. We do not claim that all proposed solutions are the only correct ones, but we invite everyone, including the opposition and the non-governmental sector, to work on its improvement in the coming days. This is a unique example where the government offers all public actors, including the opposition, to work together on establishing a more efficient system of control over the government itself. It is true that we are doing this at the cantonal level, not at higher levels, but by doing so, we are showing our commitment to a new policy at all levels, not shying away from challenges and not looking for excuses, we are working where we can. Today, that is the cantonal level, but we firmly believe that such a policy is the future at all levels and we will persevere on that path,” said the President of People and Justice, Elmedin Konaković.