A company owned by the family of Ramo Isak, Minister of Police of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been paid around five million euros for one hundred and thirty jobs since 2016. Transparency International BiH raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest, but no institution in the entity would address the issue.
The lack of a commission to deal with conflicts of interest has led to private companies owned by ministers’ relatives winning public tenders, highlighting a loophole in the system. Minister Isak defended himself, denying any conflict of interest and calling for a thorough investigation.
The issue extends beyond Minister Isak, with other politicians also facing potential conflicts of interest. The delay in passing a new law on conflicts of interest in FBiH is due to resistance from politicians who would be affected by it.
Calls for stricter regulations and enforcement mechanisms to prevent such conflicts of interest from undermining public trust and accountability in government continue to grow.