Ustamujić pays first 2,500 KM of "white bread" to Red Cross of FBiH

Former federal representative and member of the Democratic Front (DF) Mirza Ustamujić today paid 2,500 KM to the account of the Red Cross of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is money that Ustamujić received as so-called "white bread", which he will receive for 12 months as a former representative in the FBiH Parliament.

Ustamujić announced that he will continue to pay the money from the white bread to humanitarian organizations' accounts for the next 11 months.

- While the public debates whether politicians should or should not receive so-called white bread, I decided to apply for this right that the law allows me, not to use it for personal interests, but so that this white bread at least provides for those who live in difficult social conditions, Ustamujić explained earlier.

According to current regulations in BiH, representatives in cantonal, entity, and state Parliaments have the right to receive a salary for a year after they are relieved of their duties in the parliaments, if they are not re-elected or if they do not return to the jobs they held before entering parliament. These regulations have caused great controversy among the citizens of BiH, who have called for the immediate abolition of privileges for politicians, which annually amount to millions of KM from the state budget even after their mandates expire.

Namik Hodžić, Secretary General of the Red Cross of FBiH, told Patria that Ustamujić's money will be of great help to the Red Cross's soup kitchen, which prepares meals for 3,500 poor people daily.

- With his 2,500 KM paid to our account, we will be able to provide one very high-quality meal for half of the soup kitchen users – Hodžić said.

- If other representatives followed his example, there would be fewer hungry people in this country – Hodžić added.

Ustamujić said that he advocates for the abolition of white bread, but exclusively with the precise provision that these funds from the budget be directed to help vulnerable citizens, not to remain in the budget and be spent on something from which citizens will not benefit, NAP writes.