Trojka delays selection of new Minister of Higher Education, next regular session of the KS Assembly at the beginning of October?

(Patria) - Prime Minister of KS Nihad Uk announced on 17 September that the appointment of the new minister or minister of science, higher education and youth of KS would be at the first next regular session, which he announced for the end of September or the beginning of October.

As confirmed to Patria, the President of the KS Assembly, Elvedin Okerić, has not yet scheduled the Collegium of the KS Assembly, which would also set the date of that session. After a two-month break, the KS Assembly held a continuation of the session interrupted on 15 July on 16 September, and that session has not yet been concluded.

We remind you that since the arrest of Minister of Higher Education Adna Mesihović (ZNG) in April this year, this department was managed by Minister of Justice and Administration Darja Softić-Kadenić (Our Party), and at the end of July, Minister of Economy of KS Zlatko Mijatović (NIP) took over.

From sources close to the Trojka, it was confirmed to us that negotiations on who will be the new minister are still ongoing, but it will be a person from the University of Sarajevo.

There are numerous problems in this department, one of which is the inadequate accommodation conditions in student dormitories, and students in the capital city of Sarajevo in the 21st century do not have enough hot water or food. Although the situation has been difficult for years, the Government of KS is still not ready to consider the option of a public-private partnership in the case of student dormitories, which, according to economic calculations, would be a winning combination, and Sarajevo would attract a significant number of foreign students with modern accommodation. The appointment of the director of the Student Center is also the subject of investigative actions in the Mesihović case, and this institution is now managed by an acting director. Problems also exist in the case of scientific research projects where payment of money is delayed, as well as tranches to some other institutions.

Mesihović spent two months in custody, and since the lifting of custody and the imposition of restraining measures, she has been suspended at the proposal of Prime Minister Uk. In the meantime, Mesihović decided to take over the mandate of a representative in the KS Assembly after Damir Marjanović renounced his mandate. His resignation followed the arrest of ZNG cadres, and since there was no regular session, Mesihović could not take over the mandate.

Previously, the KS Assembly had to relieve the minister of her duties and appoint a new minister, and it is precisely this process that is being delayed until the Trojka reaches a final agreement on the candidate.

When it comes to unfulfilled promises, the KS Assembly has not yet considered a special law that would enable the payment of the difference in subsidies to young people for the purchase of their first property under the public call from 2023, although the adoption of the law has been promised since July.

Since the formation of the Government of KS led by Uk in March 2023, this will be the third Minister of Higher Education, and the fifth if we count two acting directors.