Zoran Tegeltija

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Zoran Tegeltija
Zoran Tegeltija (cropped).jpg
Tegeltija in January 2021
10th Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Assumed office
23 December 2019
PresidentŠefik Džaferović
Milorad Dodik
Željko Komšić
Preceded byDenis Zvizdić
Minister of Finance of Republika Srpska
In office
29 December 2010 – 18 December 2018
Prime MinisterAleksandar Džombić
Željka Cvijanović
Preceded byAleksandar Džombić
Succeeded byZora Vidović
Mayor of Mrkonjić Grad
In office
2 October 2004 – 29 December 2010
Succeeded byDivna Aničić
Personal details
Born (1961-09-29) 29 September 1961 (age 59)
Mrkonjić Grad, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavia
NationalityBosnian Serb
Political partyAlliance of Independent Social Democrats (1998–present)
Spouse(s)Dušanka Tegeltija
Children2
Alma mater

Zoran Tegeltija (Serbian Cyrillic: Зоран Тегелтија; born 29 September 1961) is a Bosnian Serb politician serving as the 10th Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina since December 2019. He was Minister of Finance of Republika Srpska from 2010 to 2018 and mayor of Mrkonjić Grad from 2004 until 2010. Tegeltija is a member of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD).

He graduated from the School of Economics and Business at the University of Sarajevo in 1986, and later worked in customs services. Tegeltija was elected to the National Assembly of Republika Srpska in 2000. In 2004, he was elected mayor of Mrkonjić Grad and re-elected in 2008. In 2010, Aleksandar Džombić appointed him Minister of Finance of Republika Srpska. Tegeltija served as Minister of Finance until the entity government of Radovan Višković was formed in 2018.

In 2019, he was appointed Chairman of the Council of Ministers, following the 2018 general election. As chairman, Tegeltija has been one of the high ranking officials that has led Bosnia and Herzegovina's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early life and education[]

Tegeltija is a Serb and has attended schools in his native Mrkonjić Grad and then moved to Sarajevo, where in 1986, he graduated from the School of Economics and Business at the University of Sarajevo.

He worked at the Bosanski Brod oil refinery,[citation needed] the Tax Administration and the Customs Administration of Republika Srpska as an adviser to the director. In addition, he was a lecturer at the RS Customs Administration training centre, and member of the Commission for the implementation of the Bosnian customs policy.

Early political career[]

Tegeltija has been a member of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) since 1998. He was first elected in 2000 in the town council of Mrkonjić Grad[1] as well as a member of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska[2] and later served as chairman of the State Commission for the Bosnia and Herzegovina borders.[citation needed]

He was elected mayor of Mrkonjić Grad in 2004 and re-elected as mayor in 2008, serving until 29 December 2010.[3][4] At the 2006 Bosnian general election, Tegeltija was the head of the party's election headquarters.[5] Albeit a close ally of Milorad Dodik, Tegeltija has never engaged in nationalistic rhetoric, nor been embroiled in major scandals.[1]

In 2006, he completed his postgraduate studies and in 2008 gained the title of Doctor of Economic Sciences from Alpha BK University in Belgrade. Since 2009, he worked as senior assistance and then assistant professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Business Management, University of Banja Luka, teaching public finance and monetary economics.

Minister of Finance of Republika Srpska (2010–2018)[]

Tegeltija was appointed Minister of Finance of the Republika Srpska entity on 29 December 2010 in the government of Aleksandar Džombić,[6] and was later confirmed in the post in the first and second cabinet of Željka Cvijanović in 2013 and 2014.[7] He was re-elected in the National Assembly at the 2018 general elections.

During his ministerial tenure, three banks failed in Republika Srpska, including Bobar Banka and Balkan Investment Bank. Tegeltija's government increased its capital in the latter by €15.000.000 in 2013, becoming majority owner of it. The bank changed its name in Bank of Srpska, but was liquidated in 2016, with a loss estimated at €60.000.000 in public and private deposits. The RS Banking Agency, under the jurisdiction of Tegeltija's entity ministry of Finance, was blamed for lack of supervision on the banking sector. The RS entity Supreme Court ruled in July 2019 that the Agency had illegally hid data on banking operation and that the bankruptcies could have been prevented.[1]

In 2017, the RS entity Public Sector Audit Office contested the official estimates of public deficit, claiming it was up to €87.500.000, and not €22.500.000 as reported by Tegeltija's ministry. The audit office also found that the government had taken loans on behalf of funds and public institutions without their knowledge. The Auditor-General Duško Šnjegota resigned soon after, and Jovo Radukić, a former assistant to Tegeltija was appointed in his stead. The move was widely denounced as a clear case of political pressure on independent institutions.[1]

Chairman of the Council of Ministers (2019–present)[]

See also: Cabinet of Zoran Tegeltija
Tegeltija with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, 29 January 2021

After a one year governmental formation crisis following the 2018 general election, on 5 December 2019, the national House of Representatives confirmed the appointment of Tegeltija as the new Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[8] The whole government was confirmed by Parliament on 23 December 2019.[9]

At a national House of Representatives session held on 11 January 2021, a vote of no confidence in Tegeltija took place, due to poor performance results during his term as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, but by the end of the voting, it was clear that Tegeltija was staying as Chairman of the Council of Ministers.[10] Three months later, on 28 April, another vote of no confidence in Tegeltija took place at a House of Representatives session, but again, Tegeltija continued serving as Chairman.[11] Later during that same session, he reacted to a supposed non-paper sent by Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, regarding possible border changes in the Western Balkans, saying that he isn't "a man of inflammatory rhetoric" and that he "will not deal with fictional papers".[12]

On 24 May 2021, Tegeltija met with Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić in Sarajevo.[13]

At a Parliamentary Assembly session held on 16 June 2021, which included both the House of Representatives and the House of Peoples, the latter's delegate Zlatko Miletić called for the resignation of the whole Tegeltija Cabinet, stating "You [Tegeltija's Cabinet] have done nothing, there is no excuse"; Tegeltija responded to Miletić by only saying that there are no reasons for a resignation.[14]

On 18 June 2021, Tegeltija met with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz at a Western Balkans summit in Vienna, where they discussed about cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria, security and migration.[15]

At a Council of Ministers session held on 23 June 2021, Tegeltija's cabinet, much to his disapproval, supported a new law regarding the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (VSTV BiH), a legal solution, which is a condition for obtaining European Union candidate status, as well as other tranches of EU microfinance support.[16]

On 30 June 2021, he spoke in a telephone call with German chancellor Angela Merkel about the future of EU potential enlargement, ahead of the 2021 Berlin Process Summit.[17] On 14 September 2021, Tegeltija met in person with Merkel at a Western Balkans meeting in Tirana, Albania, where they talked about the COVID-19 pandemic, Berlin Process, EU enlargement and the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[18]

Cabinet reshuffle[]

During the period from December 2019 until May 2020, the office of Minister of Human Rights and Refugees was vacant, with the leading parties in government not finding common ground on naming a new minister; eventually, DNS's Miloš Lučić was decided to take on the role of minister, getting confirmed by Parliament on 15 May 2020.[19] Not even a month after Lučić's appointment, on 2 June 2020, Fahrudin Radončić resigned as Minister of Security over a migration dispute with other members of Tegeltija's government; Radončić proposed the deportation of 9,000 migrants which the cabinet, headed by Tegeltija, voted against.[20] On 23 July 2020, Selmo Cikotić became the new Minister of Security in Tegeltija's cabinet, succeeding Radončić.[21]

In February 2021, Josip Grubeša, the Minister of Justice in the government of Tegeltija, was almost released from his duties as minister after Parliament was on verge of voting for Grubeša's sacking, but in the end, just narrowly, voted against.[22]

On 12 March 2021, Tegeltija dismissed Miloš Lučić from his duties as Minister of Human Rights and Refugees, the reason being the abolishment of the coalition between Tegeltija's SNSD party and Lučić's DNS.[23] Eighteen days later, on 30 March, the national House of Representatives confirmed Lučić's dismissal, but the decision will officially take effect when the national House of Peoples, the upper house of the bicameral Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, also confirms the dismissal.[24]

COVID-19 pandemic[]

Main articles: COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina and COVID-19 vaccination in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tegeltija (back, middle) alongside EU official Olivér Várhelyi (left), Bosnian Foreign Minister Bisera Turković (right) and Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (front), accepting a COVID-19 vaccine donation from the EU, 4 May 2021

Since March 2020, as head of government, Tegeltija has been one of the high ranking officials that has led Bosnia and Herzegovina's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25]

On 15 March 2020, the Council of Ministers issued a decision which forbid for foreign nationals entering Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter from areas with intensive transmission of COVID-19, and especially from: Provinces of the PRC (Wuhan), South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran, France, Romania, Germany, Austria, Spain, Switzerland and Belgium.[26] On 17 March, Tegeltija's government declared a state of emergency in the entire country.[27]

On 24 March 2020, the Council of Ministers issued a decision which baned entrance for all foreigners, and also from 30 March, all borders at airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina were closed for passengers, and airplanes could land only to deliver cargo.[28] On 21 May 2020, the government headed by Tegeltija adopted a decision which allowed entry and stay of a foreigner who entered Bosnia and Herzegovina due to business obligations, provided that they have an invitational letter from a legal entity from Bosnia and Herzegovina that hired them in the country and a certificate of a negative test for SARS-CoV-2 virus from an authorized laboratory, not older than 48 hours from the time of entry.[29] Citizens of Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia could enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without any additional condition from 1 June 2020.[30]

The effects of restrictive measures and their relaxation were scientifically analyzed. After the authorities lifted mandatory quarantine restrictions, the instantaneous reproduction number increased from 1.13 on 20 May to 1.72 on 31 May.[31] On 7 November 2020, it was confirmed that Tegeltija tested positive for COVID-19;[32] by 21 November, he recovered.[33]

Bosnia and Herzegovina began its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on 12 February 2021.[34]

On 27 March 2021, Tegeltija spoke in a telephone call with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen about the epidemiological situation caused by the pandemic, where it was agreed, among other things, that in the second half of April 2021, the delivery of 650,000 Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, donated by the European Union, to the countries of the Western Balkans will begin, and that those vaccines will be completely free.[35]

On 6 April 2021, anti-governmental protests "Fight for Life" were held by a group of citizens and activists in Sarajevo in front of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Federal Government, seeking resignations from Tegeltija and Federal Prime Minister Fadil Novalić, due to lack of leadership during the pandemic and late procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.[36] Further anti-governmental protests were held eleven days later, on 17 April as well.[37]

On 22 July 2021, Tegeltija called on the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to speed up the process of vaccination of the country's population, saying "So far, we have received about 1.6 million vaccines, start with the mass immunization."[38]

Personal life[]

Zoran is married to Dušanka Tegeltija, and together they have two daughters, Jelena and Ivana.[39] They live in Mrkonjić Grad.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Balkan Insight
  2. ^ "Zoran Tegeltija basic information" (in Bosnian).
  3. ^ "Elections results 2004" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Elections results 2008".
  5. ^ "Društvo – Nezavisne novine". 9 February 2008. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  6. ^ Muller, Tom (2012). Political Handbook of the World 2012. SAGE. p. 171. ISBN 9781608719952.
  7. ^ Lansford, Tom (2015). Political Handbook of the World 2015. CQ Press. p. 776. ISBN 9781483371559.
  8. ^ Kovacevic, Danijel (5 December 2019). "Bosnia Parliament Confirms Tegeltija as New State PM". Balkan Insight.
  9. ^ Er.M. (23 December 2019). "Počela sjednica o imenovanju Vijeća ministara BiH" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
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  23. ^ N.V. (12 March 2021). "Tegeltija smijenio ministra za ljudska prava i izbjeglice Miloša Lučića" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
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  33. ^ "Tegeltija negativan na koronavirus, od ponedjeljka se vraća redovnim dužnostima" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
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  36. ^ D. Be. (6 April 2021). "Protesti u Sarajevu: Građani ispred Vlade FBiH skandiraju "Ostavke" i "Paraziti napolje"" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  37. ^ N.V. (17 April 2021). "Završeni protesti građana u Sarajevu: Na potezu su parlamentarci, rok je 1. maj" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  38. ^ M.G. (22 July 2021). "Tegeltija: Dosad nam je stiglo oko 1,6 miliona vakcina, počnite s masovnom imunizacijom" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  39. ^ "Zoran Tegeltija biografija". hamdocamo.wordpress.com (in Bosnian). Retrieved 20 October 2020.

External links[]

Political offices
Preceded by
Denis Zvizdić 		Chairman of the Council of Ministers
of Bosnia and Herzegovina
2019–present 		Incumbent
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