The Government of Republika Srpska has decided to invest more than 47 million BAM in four local communities where early elections for the president of Republika Srpska are being repeated. The opposition claims this is a clear attempt to buy votes, while Transparency International warns that this represents a classic case of misuse of public resources.
According to the decision of the RS Government, priority infrastructure projects in 2026 will be financed in Laktaši, Zvornik, Bratunac and Doboj, for which more than 47 million BAM will be allocated from the RS budget.
RS Prime Minister Savo Minić stated that the funds are planned within the 2026 budget and are intended for capital and infrastructure projects. Specifically, 11.1 million BAM is planned for the implementation of projects in Laktaši, 13 million BAM for infrastructure projects in Zvornik, six million KM for projects in Bratunac, and 17 million BAM for financing projects in Doboj.
However, the opposition claims that this is an obvious example of abuse of public resources and an attempt to influence voters in municipalities where elections are being repeated. They warn that the budget of Republika Srpska will, in practice, cost several thousand marks per voter in these areas.
Nebojša Vukanović from the list “For Justice and Order” says it is clear that the ruling SNSD is directing huge sums of money to these local communities in order to gain political support through various projects. He claims this is contrary to the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina and represents an abuse of government institutions.
SDS official Želimir Nešković also criticizes the decision, while Transparency International BiH points out that the misuse of public resources before elections has been a long-standing practice in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Srđan Traljić from Transparency International BiH says that this is an election year and that such spending should be viewed in that context, warning that public investments regularly increase before elections and decrease in non-election years.
Political analyst Mladen Bubonjić believes that it cannot be directly claimed that these funds are intended to finance election campaigns, but says the timing is indicative and gives reason for suspicion.
