Elections in Republika Srpska: Dodik’s protege wins
24 November 10:10
The winner of the early presidential election in Republika Srpska, a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was the candidate of Serbian separatists, former Interior Minister Sinisa Karan, who is a confidant of ousted Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik. In early August, the local Central Election Commission (CEC) removed Dodik from the post of president of Republika Srpska, which he had held for almost two decades, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing DW.
“According to the preliminary, unofficial and incomplete results, Sinisa Karan received 50.89 percent of the vote,” said Jovan Kalaba, chairman of the Central Election Commission, late on Sunday evening, November 23. His main rival, the candidate of the largest opposition party, Branko Blanush, received 47.8 percent of the vote. The official election results have not yet been announced, despite the fact that the CEC intended to do so by 23:00 local time.
“Two Dodiks”: Former president congratulates his successor on victory in advance
Earlier in the day, Milorad Dodik, head of the SNSD party of independent social democrats, who has long sought the separation of Republika Srpska from the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, congratulated his confidant Sinisa Karan on his victory.
“Our policy has always been clear and dedicated to Republika Srpska and the people, and I am pleased that the majority of the people voted in this way, giving their support to Sinisa Karan, SNSD and our coalition partners. Personally, I take this as support for me. In the most difficult circumstances, they (opponents ) have now got two Dodiks, whom they will see every day,” the Bosnian Serb leader said at a briefing at the party headquarters.
On November 23, 1.2 million voters in Republika Srpska could be allowed to participate in the elections. The winner of the election will hold office for only about one year, as Bosnia and Herzegovina will hold national parliamentary and presidential elections in October 2026.
Dodik retained influence even after his ouster
Milorad Dodik was removed from the presidency of Republika Srpska after he was convicted of enacting two laws that prohibited the implementation of decisions of the UN High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although Dodik was not eligible to run for office, he is still considered the de facto leader, influencing the situation behind the scenes.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided into Republika Srpska, predominantly populated by Bosnian Serbs, and the Croat-Muslim Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the Dayton Accords. These two semi-autonomous parts of the state are linked by a weak central government. About one-third of the country’s three million five hundred thousand inhabitants live in Republika Srpska, which covers almost half of the country’s territory.
