We analyzed the first 100 days of work of the Government of the Federation headed by Nermin Nikšić. The contribution would have been longer if there had been more material.
A lot was promised in the pre-election campaign, some of it was fulfilled, and a lot of things are still pending. A hundred days have passed since the stormy appointment of the new convocation of the Government of the Federation. It is time to hold citizens accountable. The Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nermin Nikšić, then announced an ambitious program and big goals. Much more modest now – satisfied with what has been achieved. Although there is room for dissatisfaction, in the foreground, however, are achievements.
“We have finished the story regarding the reform energy laws, which is one of the conditions for fulfilling our obligations on the EU path. I consider it very important to highlight the law adopted by the Government and which was adopted in both houses of the FBiH Parliament, that is, the law on the protection of civilian victims of war, which recognizes some categories for the first time”, said Nermin Nikšić, Prime Minister of FBiH (August 3, 2023).
Of the 490 promises made, only 23 percent were fulfilled. The rule of law is pending because all the promises and announced reforms are for now only in the announcement. Nevertheless, guided by the truth of the True Truth in the fields of social policy and education, the promises were translated into concrete actions. Although there is no shortage of good moves in certain areas, there is a lack of faster implementation of important personnel changes.
“What I am dissatisfied with are the slow changes of managers of public companies from the previous regime behind us, but this will go much faster now from September”, said Vojin Mijatović, Minister of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts of the FBiH (August 9, 2023).
In anticipation of the September offensive on personnel changes, this remains the biggest objection to the new convocation of the Federal Government, the public, but also the specific executive power. Because the slow turnover of managers of public companies brings with them numerous consequences. The replacement of the Board of Directors of Elektroprivreda BiH with the general director, which was evaluated as good, our interlocutor warns, is a late decision.
“The management of Elektroprivreda used the miners to show off to the Government because they were about to be replaced. The shift should have been earlier, then the problem of the mine that was on the scene would have been solved beforehand”, states Žarko Papić, political analyst.
From the appointment, and during the 100 days of work, the new ministers led by the prime minister were under the scrutiny of the public, but also under attack from critics. So far, it seems unrecorded. And great public pressure equals great expectations. While domestic politicians compare themselves and always shift the ball of responsibility to someone else’s court, they lag far behind European leaders.
“They do their job well, but if we compare it to the work of governments in developed democracies, we have no room for great satisfaction, they would have to do more.” In order for the government to work more, citizens must work more, ie. to demand more from politicians and to go out to protests”, believes Ivana Marić, a political analyst.
And protests are a rare occurrence, to which the authorities often turn a deaf ear. For citizens’ requests, the road to the agenda is thorny. When it’s time to pay bills, instead of reports, citizens get the Federal Government Work Program, for which they have been waiting for almost four months. There is no shortage of promises again, they assure, work will be done, and the focus is on a strong economy and improvement of citizens’ living standards. However, actions always speak louder than words. And the time before the ministers, led by the prime minister, to translate the goals into concrete moves – quite enough. However, everything is already known about the actions of one of the ministers, Sanja Vlaisavljević, when it comes to the distribution of money for cultural and sports institutions.
Of course, we should not forget the increase in pensions and the distribution of grant funds for farmers.