The leader of the ruling coalition in Republika Srpska (RS), Milorad Dodik, stated today that he is still the president of RS, elected in democratic elections by the will of the people, and that he cannot fight against that will with court decisions.
Dodik, appearing on the Morning Program of Radio Television RS (RTRS), said that the Vice President of the Republic of Serbia, Davor Pranjić, from the Croat people, had previously signed decrees on the promulgation of laws and decisions, and that, as he emphasized, he would continue to do so solely for technical reasons.
"If I had signed the decree, they would say that I was violating it and would demand a new trial. In Sarajevo, they are waiting for a formal reason to push me into the court process again, claiming that I am violating decisions that are unlawful," he said.
According to him, there must be no delays in the adoption of legal acts, and that the Vice President of the RS will do this.
He emphasized that he will continue to perform all presidential duties.
"We must remain free to fight injustice. Republika Srpska is functioning, Milorad Dodik will carry out the tasks of representing the Serbian people every day, with more energy than before," he said.
RS Vice President Davor Pranjić recently signed a decree promulgating amendments to the Law on Police and Internal Affairs, based on a decision by which, as stated, he was authorized by RS President Milorad Dodik.
Representatives of opposition parties in the RS assessed that by transferring presidential powers to Pranjić, the vice president from the Croat community, Dodik officially acknowledged the conviction of the Court of BiH, due to which the Central Election Commission (CEC) of BiH stripped him of his mandate as president of this BiH entity.
They also raised the question of the legality of the transfer of these powers, considering that Dodik is permanently prevented from doing so, as he is under a sanction that prevents him from returning to office until the end of his term.
According to the RS Constitution, the transfer of powers of the President of the Republika Srpska to one of the vice presidents is possible only in the event of "temporary inability" to perform his duties.
Dodik was stripped of his mandate as President of the RS by the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CIK BiH) based on a final verdict of the Court of BiH, which sentenced him to one year in prison and a six-year ban on holding public office for failing to implement the decisions of the High Representative.
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