SARAJEVO, Aug 25 (Hina) - The average salary in Bosnia-Herzegovina is EUR187 and as much as 40 percent of the population lives on the brink of poverty, but many politicians enjoy a standard which is much closer to those found in
western Europe.
SARAJEVO, Aug 25 (Hina) - The average salary in Bosnia-Herzegovina
is EUR187 and as much as 40 percent of the population lives on the
brink of poverty, but many politicians enjoy a standard which is
much closer to those found in western Europe. #L#
Such a conclusion transpires from income scale data all candidates
running in the upcoming Bosnian election have had to submit to the
Election Commission.
Topping the list is the candidate for the Croat seat in the three-
man state presidency, Mladen Ivankovic.
His share in the Siroki Brijeg-based "Lijanovici" meat-packing
company is worth 12 million convertible marks (KM). He owns a
KM150,000 flat and a country house worth KM600,000. Last year he
earned over KM20,000 as a minister in the Bosnian Federation
government.
Second on the list is Tuzla lawyer Faruk Balijagic, the Bosnian
Party (BOSS) candidate for the Muslim member of the state
presidency.
Balijagic reported earning almost KM150,000 last year, that he owns
three houses, three flats, two offices, two cars, and has KM80,000
in savings, which all amounts to some one million convertible
marks.
Haris Silajdzic, the likely Muslim member in the new make-up of the
state presidency, earned KM12,000 last year working as a history
professor at the Sarajevo Faculty of Philosophy. His reported
property consists of a 48-square metre flat.
Silajdzic's wife Maja has no income or property, and the family's
debt is KM235,000.
The president of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Sulejman
Tihic, last year earned KM40,000, owns a flat and a house, as well as
three offices.
Bosnian Federation Prime Minister Alija Behman's income in the past
12 months exceeded KM20,000. He owns half a flat in Sarajevo and
Turkey each.
The income scale report by Zlatko Lagumdzija, the incumbent foreign
minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), attracted
the most attention.
He reported earning KM52,000, owning a KM280,000 flat in Sarajevo,
a KM100,000 flat in Dubrovnik, Croatia, and having over KM200,000
in savings, both at home and abroad.
The Dnevni Avaz daily reacted with a cover story claiming
Lagumdzija "has hidden his wife's wealth".
The newspaper, which openly supports Silajdzic, accused Lagumdzija
of failing to report KM441,000 made by his wife's marketing
company, and called on voters to "punish" the SDP leader for
deceiving the public.
The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) candidate for the Croat state
presidency member, Dragan Covic, also attracted media attention by
stating that he earned KM30,000 over the past year, while being the
owner of property worth KM740,000.
According to the income scale report, it appears that Covic's wife
Bernardica earns twice as much as he.
Covic's counter-candidate Mijo Anic made KM20,000 in annual salary
as the Bosnian Federation defence minister. He owns a house in
Bosnia and a flat in Croatia.
Among Bosnian Serbs, the list is headed by incumbent Republika
Srpska Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic, who owns two flats and a
country house, and has KM40,000 in savings. His annual income is
around KM20,000.
The Bosnian Serb opposition leader Milorad Dodik owns property
valued at more than KM350,000.
Prominent members of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) have not
submitted their reports yet.
Election Commission Lidija Korac has said this body will not check
the income scale reports, but that complaints may be lodged, with
corresponding evidence.
The submission of false data may lead to criminal prosecution.
(hina) ha