AFTER 35 HOURS OF SESSION, HDZ ON THE VERGE OF GETTING THE FEDERATION BUDGET, SDP, NiP, NS AND THE REST OF THE EIGHT SHOWED BOTH FACES!

(Patria) - The first regular session of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament on the Budget Proposal for 2023 lasted almost 35 hours.

If we exclude the clumsiness of the presiding officer Mirjana Marinković Lepić, everything else was a mockery of citizens and taxpayers. From the apprentice-like approach of the Secretary of the House of Representatives, Ivan Miličević, towards the HDZ and their majority, to the legal violence that the Sarajevo parties fought against for years during previous mandates.

The most important thing for the citizens of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is that the budget has been adopted. And it was adopted in the amount of 6,725,847,563 KM.

Pensions, salaries, and social benefits will not be in question, but after the marathon two-day session of the House of Representatives, much will be in question in the future. The parliamentary power shown in the Lukašenko or Laktašenko style, frankly speaking, has not been seen in the last 10 years. Whether the representatives of the new majority think their power will be eternal is difficult to assess, but the fact that they rejected amendments that increase funds for hospitals, the sick, and the like says a lot.

At the same time, through amendments incorporated with the HDZ's, they allocated money to West Herzegovina Canton for the fight against the migrant crisis, even though only a few migrants can get lost there or be transported in a car trunk.

Many pointed out the illegality of certain amendments during the session, emphasizing that the protection of the constitutional order would have to be sought. But all of that was in vain; the presiding officer, other members of the collegium, the secretary, and the parliamentary majority acted like absolute rulers.

Democracy showed its dark side in the House of Representatives of the FBiH today. Because, the amendments of the future opposition parties, who, in addition to the listed budget beneficiaries awaiting pensions, sought help for the FUP, airports, hospitals, roads... all fell. Some newcomers at this level even dared to try to request a ban on individual voting. Damir Nikšić tried to do this, who clearly has not yet understood that politics is not conceptual art.

All in all, this was a too long and arduous session. And all so that the HDZ and its partners from the 'eight' could show who now rules the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, if the sessions of the parliamentary houses continue in this tone, the citizens' rebellion will not need to be convened by any policy or party; it will impose itself on its own.

Otherwise, as the proposer of the budget, the FBiH Government, explained, one of the principles and key priorities in planning budget funds for the next fiscal year was to ensure stability in the payment of pensions, veteran and social benefits, and other payments provided for by the Budget of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this segment, the need to continue taking measures for the maximum rationalization of public administration costs, i.e., strengthening fiscal discipline and controlling budget spending, was incorporated.

The Budget of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2023 is 20.1% higher than the Budget of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2022, or by 1,128.2 million KM. The structure of the proposed Budget of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2023 is characterized by an increase in tax revenues, especially revenues from contributions for pension and disability insurance and revenues from indirect taxes.

On the other hand, an increase in the amount of budget expenditures, interest, and expenses for the procurement of fixed assets is planned, with a decrease in capital transfers. Although the revised revenue projections are favorable and optimistic, with a decrease in income from financial assets and borrowing, a significant amount of funds is allocated for debt repayment expenses compared to the previous fiscal year.