House of Representatives of BiH Parliament adopts budget for 2022 in first reading, criticism over salary increases for ministers and representatives

SARAJevo, (Patria) - Representatives of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament discussed the Proposed Budget and Institutions for 2022. A significant part of the discussion concerned the base for salary calculation, and some representatives commented that salaries for ministers and representatives will increase enormously, while soldiers and police officers will see only minor increases.

“People who have the highest salaries will get the biggest increase. The salaries of representatives and ministers will increase by an additional 500 KM, which is almost the entire salary of a soldier. The salaries of soldiers and police officers will be increased by about 80 KM. The numbers and percentages are clear,” said Damir Arnaut, a representative from Our Party.

Jasmin Emrić criticized the government for not respecting the deadlines prescribed by the Budget Law.

“As long as someone from the leadership and members of the Council of Ministers does not end up in prison, the usual practice of free behavior, working without accountability to this house, will continue,” said representative Jasmin Emrić (NES), alluding to the fact that the budget is being discussed at the end of June.

Representative Nermin Nikšić (SDP BiH) said that the representatives were presented with a fait accompli and that the choice for representatives was to remain without a budget or to consciously accept its flaws, not to play around with proposing amendments, and to adopt it.

The Bill was adopted in the first reading, after which an hour was allocated for amendments.

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Draft Law on the Budget of BiH Institutions and BiH International Obligations for 2022 at the beginning of June, which was sent to the BiH Presidency as the authorized proposer.

Total revenues, receipts, and financing of BiH institutions in 2022 amount to 1,073,600,000 KM, while the servicing of BiH's external debt amounts to 819,189,119 KM.