Discussion on BiH Budget: Is there anything more important in BiH than public sector employment

(Patria) - The session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH has begun, and at this urgent session, there is one item on the agenda, which is the first reading of the Bill on the Budget of BiH Institutions and BiH's International Obligations for 2020, proposed by the Presidency of BiH.

We remind you that the Budget was proposed under an urgent procedure, but after the meeting of the leaders of SDA, HDZ, and SNSD, they decided that it would go through an abbreviated procedure and that it should pass the committee phase.

HDZ insisted on this the most, and the opposition interpreted this as an obstruction of local elections, given that every hour counts, as the organization of elections is already well underway and the Central Election Commission does not have sufficient funds without the Budget.

Then, at the session of the House of Representatives, it was concluded that a new session of the House of Representatives would be held today, July 9, when the budget proposal would be considered in the first reading, after which the amendment phase would be opened.

Minister of Finance Vjekoslav Bevanda spoke about the procedure and all the circumstances that arose due to the coronavirus and the conditions to which it had to be adapted.

Jasim Emirć (A-SDA) stated that this Budget should and must be restrictive, but despite the reduction of certain items, when we see that the continuity of new employment continues, it is not really like that.

"The budget execution is very uncertain. A GDP decline of three percent is projected, so there will be no growth. What I consider unusual is new employment, so for this year, the continuity of employment in the public sector has continued, with at least 57 people. For example, 30 people will be employed in the Service for Joint Affairs... We will allocate one million marks solely for new employment," said Emrić, asking if there is anything more important in this country than employment.

"I ask where the funds for the migrant crisis are. Why haven't we considered that situation and included the minimum necessary funds," said Emrić, submitting an amendment to reduce the current reserve by 450,000 KM and open an item for transfers to other levels of government.