Constitutional Court challenges increased utility fees for telecom operators, other businesses dissatisfied

BIHAĆ/ZAVIDOVIĆI, (Patria) - The Constitutional Court of FBiH reviewed parts of the "Decision on Utility Fees" in Zavidovići and Bihać and declared them unconstitutional, after the assessment of the constitutionality of these decisions was requested from the Court by the Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH, Fadil Novalić. This annulled the increase in utility fees for telecom operators in these local communities, an increase of up to 8,000 KM in Zavidovići and up to 10,000 KM in Bihać.

What about other companies?

Utility fees in the Federation have recently been increased for other activities as well, such as banks, insurance companies, power utilities, microcredit organizations, betting shops, post offices, etc., but these increases passed without the reaction of the Prime Minister of FBiH.

- Does Fadil Novalić only care about telecom companies? Is Novalić the prime minister of all citizens of FBiH or only of those who suit him? Why does he not demand respect for the Constitution when it comes to unconstitutional increases in utility fees for banks, post offices, insurance companies, betting shops, microcredit organizations, power utilities, etc.? Why has he never spoken out and demanded respect for the Constitution of FBiH, but only when telecom companies came into question - ask the representatives of gambling operators, whose utility fees have also been increased.

Should the law be the same for everyone?

They remind that the Constitution of FBiH, in one of its basic provisions, guarantees equality before the law for all legal and natural persons in the Federation. They wonder if the provisions of the Constitution are just dead letters on paper and how it is possible that the Constitution of FBiH is not respected in practice.

- For Novalić, only telecom companies are important, which is why the request for an assessment of the constitutionality of the Decisions on Utility Fees in Zavidovići and Bihać to the Constitutional Court states that telecom services are of public interest. As if other activities are not of public interest and as if citizens of FBiH do not work in banks, post offices, power utilities, microcredit organizations, betting shops, and other activities - emphasize the gambling operators.

Novalić, the prime minister for telecom companies?

They are particularly outraged because they believe that Prime Minister Novalić, despite being the prime minister of all citizens of FBiH, is making distinctions between them.

- We are just as legal companies and activities as telecom companies are legal. Novalić has had countless opportunities to do the same as he is doing now and demand respect for the Constitution, because utility fees have been unconstitutionally increased for other companies as well. The Prime Minister of FBiH should advocate for respect for the Constitution equally in all situations and should defend the Constitution of FBiH with equal energy, regardless of who the person is, legal or natural. Novalić does not do this and proves day by day that he is not the prime minister of all citizens of FBiH, but only of those who suit him - concluded the outraged gambling operators.