Young people deceived, promises broken: Pandurević and Uk under fire for unpaid subsidies

(Patria) - An informal group of young people from the Sarajevo Canton has reacted following the appearance of the Minister of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection, Mladen Pandurević, on Klix Studio.

Regarding the payment of subsidies to young people who did not receive full payment in 2023, Pandurević stated that he "doesn't care about that," which sparked a reaction from the group of young people from the Sarajevo Canton.

In addition to this statement, Pandurević also said that the funds allocated in the Sarajevo Canton Budget for 2025 are not intended for the young people from 2023 because the item is general.

"Through an amendment adopted in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, based on the Conclusion from June 2024, an additional five million KM was allocated for the item 'Subsidizing the resolution of housing issues for young people' precisely with the aim of paying the remaining funds to applicants from the 2023 Public Call. The funds are allocated - the purpose is clear. The minister's statement that they are not intended for young people from 2023 represents manipulation and an attempt to justify the delay," they state from this group.

They also emphasize that the Law on Budgets of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not in any provision prohibit the realization of obligations from the previous year in the current one, especially when a Conclusion of the Assembly has been adopted for this purpose and when the funds have been clearly directed by an amendment.

"Instead of respecting the legislative authority and a responsible attitude towards young people, from the Sarajevo Canton Government we have been hearing for months about unnamed 'legal obstacles,' without a single cited article of law. Now, with the minister's message 'I don't care about young people,' it becomes clear that this Government not only does not plan to fulfill its own obligations - but it tells young people that they are irrelevant," the statement said.

They have again announced protests on June 10, 2025, at 3:00 PM in front of the Sarajevo Canton Government building, but also stated that they now demand the resignations of Pandurević and the Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad Uk if a clear and concrete public call for the payment of the remaining subsidies is not issued within 30 days.

They state that they demand Pandurević's resignation due to his public message "that he doesn't care about young people" and because he "ignores the will of the Assembly," and Uk's because "for a year and a half he has not taken any concrete action to protect the interests of young people."

"Enough of false promises, legal fog, and treating young people as second-class citizens. It is time for justice and accountability," they stated.