Šaljić: The Troika coalition knows how to introduce levies and take loans, we were a barrier to their party-based hiring

(Patria) - The decisions of the Sarajevo Canton Government did not have passage in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, stated the new/old Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Nihad Uk in his program presentation (exposé). He identified us, the deputies from the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the reason for the weak passage and that this resulted in the exclusion of our two ministers, Almir Bečarević and Emir Dedović, from the Sarajevo Canton Government, and us, the deputies from the coalition and the assembly majority.

This was written in his response by the cantonal deputy of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jasmin Šaljić.

“Also, he stated that the new assembly majority with independent deputies brings new energy to maximally accelerate the processes. Let me first clarify what weak passage means? In practice, this means that we, from the Troika members, rejected all proposals throughout the year that led to increases in utility prices. In that coalition, we were the only barrier to a 70% increase in water prices and over a 60% increase in waste disposal services. Throughout the year, in the Assembly and through our ministers in the Sarajevo Canton Government, we successfully rejected these levies on citizens, while simultaneously demanding a reduction in gas and water prices (submitting initiatives),” Šaljić points out.

As he says, the process of expelling the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina began sometime in May of this year when his party colleague Muamer Bandić publicly revealed the previously hidden proposal for increasing water prices.

“All alarms went off then! We did not accept the adoption of various reports, work programs, financial plans of institutions, companies, and organizations founded by Sarajevo Canton, which were submitted to us with a delay (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022), especially regarding financial plans. We did not approve the formation of a municipal police as an independent institution for which there is no justified need. Except for party-based hiring! Why is this independent institution needed, which would employ approximately two hundred people, when we already have the Park Company, we have the Eco Police, and on top of that, the Cantonal Inspectorate,” Šaljić points out and asks:

“If these companies are not performing well, why are their annual reports being accepted, i.e., adopted?”.

Šaljić adds that this is a burden on the Sarajevo Canton budget of several million KM annually.

“The proposal to increase utility services by the above-mentioned percentage will very soon appear at the next session. Unfortunately, the proposal will pass because there is no barrier in the form of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina. This Troika coalition knows how to successfully do only two things. Take a loan and increase prices,” concluded Šaljić.