Stanivuković's Decision to Turn Parking Lot Next to RS Government into Pedestrian Zone Annulled

(Patria) - The Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology of the RS has annulled the decision of Banja Luka Mayor Draško Stanivuković to turn the parking lot of Trg RS into a pedestrian zone, deeming it void due to exceeding his authority.

This decision was made with the explanation that Stanivuković exceeded his authority, i.e., that he is not competent to make such decisions.

"The mayor, as the issuer of the contested decision, decided on a matter within the competence of the City Assembly in a matter that cannot be resolved in administrative proceedings, thereby fulfilling the conditions for it to be declared void," the statement said.

In addition, it was pointed out that property-legal relations on the plots in front of the RTRS building have not been resolved. The Ministry reminded that the City Assembly had previously adopted a Decision on Public Parking Zones, which classified Trg RS into the second tariff zone.

"A decision to declare a pedestrian zone can only be made by the City Assembly, and not by the mayor through an individual administrative act," they added in the statement from the ministry.

Let us recall, Stanivuković ordered the closure of the parking lot at Trg RS, and the Department of Traffic and Roads informed the public on December 9 that the area of Trg RS was being declared a pedestrian zone in accordance with Article 87 of the Law on Road Traffic Safety of the RS.

These decisions came as a result of his protest against the announced law on the distribution of VAT, under which, he claims, Banja Luka would be damaged by six million KM.

Since Friday, December 6, Stanivuković's "showdown" with the RS Government, which announced the said law, has been ongoing. First, he ordered the lighting around all RS institutions to be turned off, followed by the next step - the blockade of the public parking lot next to the RS Government building, where, as on the roadway leading to this institution, decorative "Zimzobal" houses and a "Pedestrian Zone" sign were placed.

In addition to the above, Stanivuković also turned off the water in the RS Palace. However, the Mayor of Banja Luka did not stop there, and announced that he would also suspend garbage collection for RS institutions.