Unless the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) entity gets the 2019 Budget by January 31, no salary, pension or disability allowance will be paid in February, FBiH Prime Minister Fadil Novalic said, adding there is no more time for political games.

“The main problem with the payment of pensions is that the Pension Fund’s 2019 financial plan was not adopted. Without it, we can’t make any payments, and without the budget, we can’t raise them as we promised last year,” Novalic added.

He told the Nezavisna novine daily the problem is that the FBiH government cannot do anything to alleviate the situation because the FBiH House of Peoples must adopt any decision they make just as they have to pass the 2019 Budget.

After the October general election, the House of Peoples has not held a single session because some delegates, mostly from the parties gathered around the Croat National Council (HNS), claim the current formation of the House is illegitimate and that a new House must be formed for it to continue working.

The FBiH House of peoples is elected when all the cantons from the entity submit their delegate lists to the Central Election Commission which then has to confirm their election.

But not all delegates are elected because two cantons where the biggest Bosnian Croat party, the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH), won the overwhelming majority, are still waiting to submit their delegate lists.

“Either the old or the new formation of the House must adopt the Budget before we start making any payments from it,” Novalic said.

Speaking about announcements of protests by farmers, pensioners and war veterans as well as the possible financial collapse of this entity, he said the sole responsibility lies on those who are against the old House formation holding sessions.

“The Constitution is clear on this matter, and it stipulates that there must be continuity of the authorities. As long as the new House is not formed, the old one is legitimate to make decisions. Besides, if old delegates can receive their salaries, they can also hold sessions,” Novalic stressed.

Asked about the consequences if the Budget does not get adopted by January 31, Novalic confirmed that only innocent citizens and pensioners would bear them.