Trojka has not yet taken a stance on the reconstruction of the KS Government: First the 2025 Budget, then personnel changes

Written by: Amra Vrabac

The reconstruction of the Government of Sarajevo Canton is still an unfinished topic, and according to announcements, some personnel changes could occur soon.

However, given that on November 26, a session of the KS Assembly will be held to discuss the Draft Budget of KS for 2025, whose final adoption is expected by the end of December after a 15-day public debate, it is difficult to expect any changes in the KS Government personnel to begin by the end of the year.

In the KS Assembly, People and Justice and the SDP BiH each have seven representatives, while Our Party has four. ZNG, which entered the KS Government after the expulsion of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina thanks to the head of NIP, Elmedin Konaković, has only Damir Marjanović with a workplace in Zagreb, but it also received two important ministries in the KS Government – finance and higher education. However, these days, ZNG ministers are coming into the public focus due to the difficult financial situation of Sarajevo Canton and the decisions of Minister Adna Mesihović in the case of the election of the rector of the University of Sarajevo. However, the struggle between the University of Sarajevo and Minister Mesihović, who is under the control of Marjanović and certain centers of power, will certainly have a judicial epilogue, while Finance Minister Afan Kalamujić is leading a battle with cutting the “popular projects” from the KS budget of his colleagues, aware of the financial hole they are in.

The President of People and Justice, Elmedin Konaković, spoke yesterday for N1 about the reconstruction of the KS Government.

“I think we need an urgent meeting of the Trojka regarding the KS Government. We have the right to present some of our objections to our representatives from the Assembly, the delegates, to analyze individually the work of each minister, we have specific objections to the work of directors of utility companies who have made certain omissions in their work. Anyone who may have abused or falsified or issued an incorrect certificate should be held maximally accountable, and I am absolutely for that. I expect that within our regular meetings, which we have intensified, we will quickly descend to the cantonal levels,” said Konaković.

Although he did not specify which public companies they are dissatisfied with, it is no secret that it is the Water Supply and Sewerage, KJKP Rad, where NIP personnel are located.

On the other hand, KS Prime Minister Nihad Uk spoke this morning about 2025 and the challenges facing the Government regarding the financial situation, where he left no room for the possibility that he will not be prime minister, although some time ago he was ready to offer his resignation.

“It will be a bit more challenging for me and the line ministers, Finance Minister Kalamujić, to do the math so that people don't feel it. There is no room for panic,” Uk told TVSA about the plans for the next year.

In this term of the reconstructed KS Government since November 2023, numerous demands from unions for salary increases and better working conditions have been placed before the Government. Tomorrow, Uk will hold a meeting with the Coordination of Unions, which brings together seven unions, where it will be said in which direction things can go regarding the salaries of workers who are on the KS Budget.

Earlier, healthcare workers have already protested, and education workers will most likely go on a mass strike after the Government finally responds to the demands. The so-called reforms in education, and pressures from the Ministry of Education and the minister's own attitude towards the education system and staff have only increased the revolt that could soon escalate.

It is no secret that dissatisfaction with the work of part of the KS Government is also simmering within the Sarajevo SDP, and given the number of representatives they have, they believe they should get another position, even taking over the position of prime minister.

Although the Trojka parties, with the help of two female representatives, could have the necessary majority without ZNG, Konaković is not ready to give up Marjanović. However, it is possible that they will remain with only one ministry, given the growing rebellion and dissatisfaction of the University of Sarajevo with the moves of Minister Mesihović.