The Mayor of Banja Luka, Drasko Stanivukovic, announced the suspension of the garbage collection service in front of the institutions of BiH's Republika Srpska (RS) entity in Banja Luka. This comes after he had already blocked parking, turned off public lighting, and announced plans to cut off electricity and water to these institutions due to their debts to the city. Protests have also been announced in front of the Presidential Palace and the National Assembly of RS.

Stanivukovic once again called on the RS Government to withdraw the controversial draft Law on the Budget System of RS, which, as he previously stated, would deprive Banja Luka of six million BAM in favor of underdeveloped municipalities.

He announced a protest in front of the RS Presidential Palace tomorrow and another on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in front of the National Assembly.

“The government is working against the largest city… Tomorrow, all employees of the City Administration will come out with documents and demand the withdrawal of the law. We will likely set up tents, work tables… We will visually present a suitcase of 77 million BAM so citizens can see how much money that is,” Stanivukovic said.

He also announced that the City Administration would not operate on Tuesday, except for emergency services, due to the planned protest.

Stanivukovic warned he would cut off the one million BAM that the City of Banja Luka allocates to RS Airport. The deadline for the government to withdraw the law is Wednesday, after which he will implement all the measures he outlined.

“The RS Government has been silent for five days. As the mayor of Banja Luka, the only minimal demand I have set is for them to withdraw this law, which is against this city. I am fighting to prevent the RS Government from doing something harmful to Banja Luka, from taking what belongs to the city,” he added.

He noted that the budget of the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has been increased by more than 20 million BAM, while Banja Luka's budget is being reduced.

“How is it normal for one person to receive a budget of 77 million BAM, while the budget of a city with over 200,000 residents is being cut? It means that one person is more important than all the citizens,” he said.