Bosnian-Serbian leader Dodik opposes a referendum against conviction

The Republika SRPSKA (RS), a sub-republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is having a referendum on the deposition of the Bosnian Serbian leader Milorad Dodik as president. Dodik was removed from his office at the beginning of this month by the Bosnian electoral committee, but fiercely opposes that decision.

The parliament of the sub -republic voted last night before holding a referendum on the decision of the electoral committee and the judicial ruling that preceded it.

Dodik was sentenced by a court in February to a prison sentence of a year because he had opposed Dayton’s peace agreements. Those agreements put an end to the Bosnian Civil War in 1995. Dodik is also not allowed to hold a political office for six years.

Dayton agreements

By the Dayton agreements, Bosnia was subdivided into the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina, with mainly Bosniaken (Bosnian Muslims) and ethnic Croats, and the Republika Srpska. A representative of the international community supervises the agreements. Since 2021 that has been the German Christian Smidt.

Dodik, who has been President of the Republika SRPSKA since 2006, does not recognize this international regulator. He calls Schmidt “illegal” and “a tourist”. He also threatened several times with the separation of the Republika Srpska from Bosnia.

After paying a hefty fine, Dodik does not have to sit off the prison sentence, but on 1 August a professional court ruled that the professional ban will remain in force. Following that decision, the Bosnian Electoral Committee Dodik dropped off on August 6. He still appealed there, but in vain.

No legal basis

The referendum will be held on October 25. With that, Dodik and his supporters try to resist new presidential elections in the Republic of SRPSKA. They are expected to take place the day after the referendum.

The popular mood has no legal basis and therefore cannot prevent the elections, but Dodik mainly hopes for support from the population and the institutions that have to organize the elections in the sub -republic.

Inhabitants of the sub-republic are asked whether they accept the decision of the non-chosen foreigner Christian Schmidt and the statements of the unconstitutional court of Bosnia and Herzegovina against the President of the Republic of SRPSKA “. It is also asked whether they recognize the ruling of the central electoral committee to deprive Dodik his mandate.

Preventing arrest

The parliament of the RS also accepted a number of resolutions yesterday. In it, the Smidt authority is rejected and a possible successor to Dodik.

The attitude of Dodik, who has started sailing an increasingly nationalistic course in recent years, has been increasing tensions in the region for months. When the Bosnian State Police in April tried to arrest , the police officer of Republika stabbed for that.

Correspondent Southeastern Europe Thijs Kettenis:

“After years of separatist rhetoric, the Bosnians witness the last political convulsions of Milorad Dodik or he knows how to drive the already tense situation even further? Formally, now that he has been adjusted, he no longer has any authority, and also the decisions of parliament of the Dodlijk Srpska hugged and hugged the ENKERZAGA. did appeal and bought his prison sentence by paying a fine of 19,000 euros, many see as a sign that he himself also knows that his political end is near.

Much will depend on institutions such as police, municipalities and schools in Republika SRPSKA. After all, they have to organize a referendum from Dodik, but at the same time from the national electoral committee the election of a new president. Dodik counts on “his” institutions, but earlier threats against Bosnian Serbs who collaborate with national institutions or work there, did not make up. They just kept doing their job.

Another sign on the wall is that life everywhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue as usual, and that Dodik cannot count on the open support of the population. Also, none of the opposition voted last night for the referendum. There is a good chance that the political crisis will deepen, without it coming to violence. Nobody is waiting for that in Bosnia, not even Dodik. But on the unstable Balkans you can never completely exclude it. “