Nikšić's Government Failed to Fulfill Promises for 2024: Fiscal Laws on Hold, No Job Growth, More Pensioners...

By Amra Vrabac

The Government of the Federation of BiH, led by Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić, adopted the Work Program of the Government of FBiH for 2024 on February 27th this year. In this plan, they optimistically announced that the primary commitment of the Government of the Federation of BiH is to ensure a strong and just economy that will enable sustainable growth, improve the standard of living of citizens, and reduce inequality. However, nine months later, it is clear that the Government has not fulfilled its promises.

The Government of FBiH committed to paying special attention to the rule of law, the fight against corruption, creating a safe environment, and maintaining the highest possible level of security.

Instead, only under pressure from the US administration were premises secured to house the Special Department of the Federal Prosecutor's Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized and Inter-Cantonal Crime and the Special Department of the Supreme Court of FBiH. The example of awarding contracts to public companies to the security agency Condor, owned by the family of the FBiH Minister of Internal Affairs, Ramo Isak, raised questions of conflict of interest. The US Embassy again sharply criticized the Government of FBiH due to the lack of a body to which conflicts of interest can be reported and which should sanction officials who secure material and other benefits while in public office.

On the other hand, the leadership of the Federal Police Administration is also under investigation, but Minister Isak decided to keep them in their positions, which was also criticized and sends a bad message.

Although the Government committed to the sustainability of public spending and creating a favorable business environment by encouraging investment, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating new values in the business and labor markets, it seems that only individuals are benefiting from it. Thus, the Government paid special attention to public spending, and the Prime Minister and ministers treated themselves to 19 new cars worth 1.6 million KM.

At the same time, the number of pensioners increases monthly, which is not matched by the growth in employment. In October alone, there were 1,155 more pensioners and 490 newly employed persons. The Government confirmed that they are providing funds to the Federal Pension and Disability Insurance Fund because the Fund does not have enough money for all needs. Almost 300 million KM were needed for pension payments in October alone. If this trend continues, loans and borrowings will be necessary for pension payments. The difference between the number of employed and the number of pensioners in FBiH is 97,935 in favor of the employed.

The Government promised to protect workers' rights, work on reducing poverty and inequality, empowering women, improving social inclusion, strengthening pro-natalist policies, and improving the quality of life for citizens. However, this segment has not been improved either.

No laws in the area of fiscal policy have been passed, contribution rates have not been reduced, and higher wages for workers have not been enabled. The promise of a 1000 KM minimum wage has not been fulfilled. Regarding pro-natalist policies, apart from the 1000 KM one-time aid per newborn child, the medically assisted reproduction programs have been a failure. There are numerous criticisms in the implementation of the project, and married or unmarried couples who decide on this procedure must finance part of the procedure themselves, and the procedure itself is significantly complicated due to the criteria set by the Federal Ministry of Health.

It is evident that the cost of living has increased this year, which has most affected pensioners. However, although one-time assistance was promised, there is no announcement of a budget rebalance for now. Pensioners were supposed to receive 100 or 200 KM depending on the amount of pension they receive. Although they held a meeting in the Government of FBiH before the Local Elections, after which nothing changed, this population is also ready for protests.

When it comes to employment programs, the Federal Employment Service has not distinguished itself either, as shown by the data from the FBiH Tax Administration. Instead of employment, the Government of FBiH decided to direct funds towards crafts and self-employment, which yielded no or negligible effect.

In addition to not improving the lives of citizens, the Government of FBiH has also failed to complete the appointments of the Director of the University Clinical Center Sarajevo and the FBiH Tax Administration. The dismissals they carried out on several occasions have been overturned by the courts.

A particular reproach against the Government of FBiH comes after the devastating floods that hit Jablanica, Fojnica, Kiseljak, and Kreševo. The road infrastructure that was destroyed, especially the railway line from Jablanica towards Mostar, has not yet been repaired, nor is there a clear repair plan.

More than a month has passed since the floods, and the citizens of Donja Jablanica are still without a permanent solution and do not know when they will get new homes, and winter is approaching.

And while Nikšić avoids citizens, he also avoids parliamentarians who proposed placing his life-size picture in the Parliament hall so they wouldn't forget what he looks like. At parliamentary sessions, Vojin Mijatović, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development, Entrepreneurship, and Crafts, addresses the sessions instead of Nikšić.