Budget Proposal for BiH Institutions for 2025: Largest Increase for the Central Election Commission by 106.5 Million KM, while Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH faces a reduction of 16 Million KM

(Patria) - According to the Budget Proposal for BiH Institutions and international obligations for 2025, a budget reduction is foreseen for only a few state institutions and Ministries, while the budget has increased for most institutions. The total planned budget for 75 institutions amounts to 1,485,604,000 KM, and with transfers, other reserved funds, and loans, it amounts to 1,555,500,000 KM.

The largest increase is for the Central Election Commission of BiH due to the procurement and introduction of new electoral technologies for the upcoming General Elections in 2026. Thus, an increase of 101,511,000 KM is planned for 2025. Additionally, the Chairperson of the Presidency of BiH, Željko Komšić, submitted an amendment for an additional 5 million KM for the implementation of early elections for the president of the Republika Srpska entity.

A budget reduction is planned for the Veterinary Office in the amount of 3,884,000 KM, as well as for the Plant Protection Administration in the amount of 911,000 KM.

One of the largest budget reductions is planned for the Indirect Taxation Authority, by 16,668,000 KM, for the Ministry of Justice of BiH a reduction of 409,000 KM, and for the Ministry of Security of BiH 915,000 KM.

A significant budget increase is planned for the Ministry of Defence of BiH in the amount of 28,120,000 KM, and for OSA an additional 4.5 million KM. Budgets have also been increased for the Court and Prosecutor's Office of BiH, the Constitutional Court of BiH, and the HJPC.

When it comes to state police agencies, an increase of 6.7 million KM is planned for the BiH Border Police, 2.5 million KM for DKPT, and 962,000 KM for SIPA.

Direct transfers from the Budget include funds for cultural institutions of state importance, based on the High Representative's order, namely for the National Museum of BiH 3 million KM, the Historical Museum of BiH 800,000 KM, the Museum of Literature and Theatre Arts 400,000 KM, the same amount planned for the National Gallery of BiH, the Library for the Blind and Visually Impaired 800,000 KM, the National and University Library of BiH 2 million KM, and the BiH Cinematheque 500,000 KM.

A transfer of 22 million KM is also planned for the settlement of part of the debts and obligations of BHRT, support for BHRT's operations in the form of repayment of the principal debt to EBU, EUTELSAT, and payments to suppliers for production and technical capacities and programming.

These transfers, as well as the increase for the Ministry of Defence of BiH, are causing negative reactions within SNSD, which does not accept the budget. We remind you that members of the Presidency of BiH Željko Komšić and Denis Bećirović prepared the proposal, and Željka Cvijanović voted against it.

The budget will be presented to the parliamentarians and delegates by the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Srđan Amidžić, and if he refuses, his deputy, Muhamed Hasanović, will do so.