My friend and colleague Reuf Bajrovic has announced the formation of the Civic Alliance of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a new political party whose program I purloined from its website using Googletranslate. My edited version appears below:
Civic State
Why?
There is no democratic principle of equal value of the voice of every citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on its entire territory. The concept of constitutionality of peoples, defined by the BiH Constitution, is incompatible with the democratic principle of equality of rights.
The current electoral system contains elements of apartheid and discrimination, which allow constituent peoples the privilege of defining the structure of the executive and legislative authorities at state and entity level.
How?
We propose constitutional and legislative reform of the system of government: reform of the institutions of the House of Peoples at the State and Entity levels, reform of the voting system in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly, subject to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the Sejdic – Finci case, and reform of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What are we doing?
We are preparing constitutional and legal solutions that would lead us to the organization of BiH as a civil state with its strongest partner, its citizens.
Removing parties from the budget
Why?
European Commission data show that in the past ten years from the budgets of all levels of government political entities were paid almost 300 million KM (convertible marks).
Appropriations for political parties are guaranteed by laws and budgets as opposed to, for example, funding public kitchens for socially vulnerable citizens.
This money can be used in a much smarter way for more important things that are of existential importance for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How?
We are looking for changes to the law on financing of political parties in BiH.
What are we doing?
We launched a campaign #NeIzMogDzepa in which we invite the citizens to join us in the request for a change to the funding, because we want the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina together to decide how we will invest these funds.
Transparent recruitment
Why?
Employment in all public institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina – from the municipal to the national level – is carried out according to the dictates of political parties. Despite repeated promises to reduce the number of employees in public administration, every post-war government in BiH attempted to solve the employment problem by increasing number of their party supporters in the public sector, which burdened the public budget and increased foreign borrowing. The cornerstone of this system is the lack of transparency in employment.
How?
Reduce the number of employees and total consumption in public administration, especially in state-owned enterprises and institutions.
What are we doing?
We have launched advocacy to fully implement the existing moratorium on the increase in the number of jobs in public administration and reduction of public sector salaries reduced by 30% on average. Also, we propose a change of employment in the public sector which will reduce the possibility of influence of political parties.
De-politicization of public companies
Why?
Public companies are the biggest problem of our economy. Political parties use them as offices for employment of their members, with the number of employees generally higher than required. Moreover, state-owned enterprises are managed by incompetent managers appointed by political parties. As a result, profits of public enterprises are only for their own and the party’s favor, and the debts arising from unpaid taxes and contributions are unsustainable.
How?
We demand that the management and supervisory boards of public companies be set up through public competition conducted by an independent body, with the help of international institutions. We suggest that in public companies, especially those in a monopoly position, introduce foreign partners through the sale of a minority stake. The financial police and prosecutors should investigate the behavior of public enterprises in the past 20 years.
What are we doing?
We propose legislative solutions to improve the management of public enterprises and conduct a public campaign to inform the public about the findings of the financial police on the work of public companies.
Incentives for private initiative
Why?
The state has so far proved to be a very bad owner of capital. The value of state-owned enterprises is rapidly declining and attempts to reduce unemployment in BiH through state intervention in the economy have collapsed. On the other hand, private sector development was placed in the background and all governments have so far looked at it solely as a source of revenue for the budget instead of the engine to start BiH economy. Unnecessarily high tax levies leave more space for the informal sector, motivated by corruption, and reduce the competitiveness of the economy.
How?
Reducing the contribution rates in both entities will reduce the cost of hiring workers, and enable employers to invest more funds in investment and potential foreign and local investors to start business in BiH.
What are we doing?
We will work to reduce the costs of employment through tax reforms. We will propose abolition of fiscal charges and a reduction in the contribution rate.
Empowering municipalities
Why?
The municipalities are the lowest level of power and have the most frequent interaction with citizens. The problems that people come into municipalities to resolve often beyond their jurisdiction.
How?
Part of the revenue that now goes to higher levels of government, entities and cantons, should be left to municipalities, especially in the field of education and social protection.
What are we doing?
We are preparing constitutional and legal solutions, that would lead us to the organization of BiH as a civil state with strong state and municipal level.