At its 272nd emergency session, held on December 31, 2025, the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the citizens were preparing for the New Year, decided to “congratulate” the year 2026 with a selective, politically motivated distribution of current reserves from the FBiH budget, without clear criteria, without public explanation and without any responsibility according to the principles of legality, equality and fiscal justice, said the Vice President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Refik Lendo.
“Instead of the current reserve serving the urgent, unforeseen and justified needs of all citizens of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Government of FBiH turned it into an instrument of political satisfaction, party agreements and fulfilling HDZ’s demands, while the so-called “Troika” once again showed its willingness to sacrifice principles for the sake of preserving power.
To whom did the FBiH Government “congratulate” the year 2026?
By decisions of the FBiH Government, funds from the current reserve in the total amount of 1,637,000 KM were allocated to the following entities:
Association Glamočki krompir – 20,000 KM
• Association MIR INTERNATIONAL Mostar (cemetery construction) – 200,000 KM
• Association of voters Grahovo – Bosansko Grahovo – 10,000 KM
• Association Blaž Enology Međugorje (“Žilavka Terroir” manifestation) – 10,000 KM
• Institution for social care and health care in Ljubuški – 200,000 KM
• Hospital dr. Friar Mihovil Sučić Livno – 50,000 KM
• Municipality of Domaljevac-Šamac – 150,000 KM
• Municipality of Tomislavgrad – 100,000 KM
• City of Mostar – 200,000 KM
• Franciscan province of Bosna Srebrena – 200,000 KM
• Holy Trinity Parish Novo Sarajevo – 40,000 KM
• SPC Mostar – 100,000 KM
• Sarajevo Cathedral – 150,000 KM
• Mufti of Mostar – 150,000 KM
• Academia Sarajevo Foundation – 7,000 KM
• Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina – 50,000 KM
Basis of criteria, without explanation, without shame
What makes these decisions particularly problematic is the complete absence of clear, measurable and publicly available criteria:
- Why these users?
• On what basis were the amounts determined?
• Why are certain local communities and institutions privileged, while others – equally or even more vulnerable – are completely ignored?
The answer, unfortunately, is politically clear: this distribution does not reflect the real needs of the citizens of the Federation of BiH, but the political geography of the ruling majority, in which HDZ’s interests are systematically met, while the “Troika” is reduced to a mere service for their realization.
It is particularly indicative that significant funds are poured into environments and institutions that are directly or indirectly politically and interest-related to the HDZ, while the Federation as a whole, its underdeveloped regions and socially vulnerable citizens are left aside.
This is not politically responsible – this is political abuse
The current reserve is not a private fund of the Government, nor a tool for political settlement of partners in power. It belongs to all citizens of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and must be used legally, transparently and fairly.
This way of distribution:
- undermines citizens’ trust in institutions,
• deepens political and regional inequalities,
• turns the budget into political loot.
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not need a government that distributes money according to the party key, but a government that has the courage to establish clear rules, public criteria and responsibility towards every citizen, regardless of political or national affiliation.
If this is what the FBiH Government’s “congratulation” looks like for 2026, then the citizens have a lot of reasons for concern, and the institutions have an obligation to stop this kind of practice – immediately and without excuses”, concluded Refik Lendo, writes Radio Sarajevo.
