Youth protests in Sarajevo over low subsidies: Politicians, trade unionists, citizens join...

(Patria) - Several hundred young people who have qualified for subsidies to resolve their housing issues today held a protest march from Sebilj to the Aria center, dissatisfied with the amount of KM 4,800 per applicant, even though the amount was supposed to be between 10 and 12 thousand KM.

Youth representative Emin Šehić stated that these are not opposition protests, as 93 percent of young people declared they are not members of any political option.

"The online petition was signed by 863 people. The KS Government created public calls as part of its youth strategy. The Government invited us to apply for the public call and set the conditions. We did not create the conditions. The subsidy amount in 2017 or 2018, when the price per square meter was significantly lower, was a significant help to young people. With today's prices per square meter, neither 10 nor 12 thousand is a help, let alone 4,800," said Šehić.

Adnan Lukač, one of the applicants for the public call, stated that the next steps will be to insist that the KS Government find a solution to pay subsidies of 10,000 to 12,000 KM.

"We will continue to insist on this, regardless of what government members and the prime minister say. We insist that the decision be respected. We will continue to protest. We have the support of political parties and decision-makers, and we hope a solution will be found. With us are several deputies in the KS Assembly, Mr. Vreto who submitted the initiative, other Assembly members who supported us, NIP leader Elmedin Konaković who spoke in line with what we are asking for, and the head of the Trade Union of Primary Education and Upbringing of Sarajevo Canton, Saudin Sivro. We have great support. It is possible to find the amount from the KS budget for 2024 to cover the promised subsidy, even though it has already been adopted," said Lukač.

The youth were also supported by the former relevant minister, Almir Bečarević, who said that there is money and a solution can be found.

"They found KM 250 million in the 2024 Budget in 15 days, so it shouldn't be a problem to find eight million for these young people. There is no theoretical chance that the budget execution for 2023 is 100 percent. However, there was a problem of pumping money into utility companies, there was a problem with trade unions and salary increases, one-time payments. Official data says that Sarajevo Canton is becoming a canton of the elderly. It is better for young people to buy an apartment than to be tenants their whole lives. It doesn't have to be 12,000, and they would be satisfied with a smaller amount, but not less than what it was before," said Bečarević.

Photo: Patria