Zukić: Urgency is the killer of transparency

(Patria) - The House of Peoples of the Parliament of the Federation adopted the Law on Debt, Borrowing and Guarantees in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Muamer Zukić (SDA), delegate in the Bosniak Club in the House of Peoples, raised a number of objections to this Law during the debate. He announced that he will file an appeal with the Constitutional Court tomorrow, because, as he said, this Law is not constitutional.

The first thing I must point out is that borrowing and urgency do not go together, they must not under any circumstances go together. Because this law cannot be adopted under an urgent procedure. This is an integral text and it does not introduce several things nor does it tighten them. On the contrary, this Law facilitates some things when it comes to borrowing. I listened carefully to the explanation and heard that the law has been in the making for a long time, yet it is being passed under an urgent procedure, that does not go together. Urgency is the killer of transparency, and the Law is unconstitutional, and tomorrow we will file an appeal against what has been adopted - said delegate Zukić.


Criticism of this law was also voiced by Vedrana Vujović (DF), delegate of the Croat Club of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH.

Much of what colleague Zukić said is true. But I must ask myself how a law that has been in parliamentary procedure since 2017 is being passed under an urgent procedure. We heard the Prime Minister of the Federation, Nermin Nikšić, say that public debt has been reduced, so why are we adopting this law? Another key problem is the explanation that this Law will not strip the Parliament of its powers. Of course it will - said delegate Vujović.

Earlier, the opposition warned about Article 25, paragraph 10 of the Law, which stipulates that the Government can borrow by issuing bonds with only the approval of the Government of the FBiH.

From the relevant ministry, they stated that the law is constitutional and aligned with the state law. It was emphasized that the new fiscal rules strengthen the role of parliament and that this was done in line with European regulations.