The majority in the RS National Assembly rejected the verdict of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina against Milorad Dodik and the decision of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina that stripped Dodik of his mandate. It is questionable how much force such decisions have, but the ruling majority deputies also voted for a referendum on the verdict against Dodik to be held at the end of October. Dodik once again, conditionally speaking, excelled. He attacked and insulted opposition deputies with the wholehearted support of Nenad Stevandić and Anja Ljubojević.
What was proposed was adopted. As expected. The Assembly rejected the verdict of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the decision of the Central Election Commission to strip Milorad Dodik of his mandate. The possibility of early elections for the President of the RS was also rejected. A referendum is scheduled for October. The RS Government will be responsible for organizing and conducting the referendum, which will provide money and technical support. All conclusions were adopted by the votes of the deputies of the ruling coalition.
“It is unnatural for the party president to go to the Constitutional Court and file an appeal and expect a positive response. When you go to an institution, hand them a piece of paper, it means that you recognize and respect that institution. I asked why we should be more Catholic than the Pope, why should we go into a direct confrontation with the Constitutional Court when you, as the most influential party in the RS Government, have accepted that constitutional court,” said Igor Crnadak, head of the PDP MPs’ Club in the RS National Assembly.
“By making the decision to call a referendum, RS will confirm its democratic capacities and ask the people, as the sole authority and bearer of sovereign power, about key issues,” said Srđan Mazalica, head of the SNSD MPs’ Club in the RS National Assembly.
A referendum question was also set, which reads: “Do you accept the decision of the unelected foreigner Christian Schmidt and the verdict of the unconstitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina against the President of Republika Srpska, as well as the decision of the Central Election Commission to revoke the mandate of the President of RS Milorad Dodik?”
Dodik, by the way, appeared in the Assembly from the position of the President of the entity, and was treated as such by the Assembly leadership. He again insulted the opposition MPs, calling them foreign spies, morons and fools who should be attacked.
“Last time you said I should be beaten up, my house was attacked, two hours later my car was set on fire, my late mother ended up in the hospital, and 10 days later we buried her,” said Nebojša Vukanović, head of the Justice and Order List in the RS National Assembly.
“You are serving Muslims and their interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina. What kind of Bosnia and Herzegovina, what kind of Sarajevo? We must free ourselves from Sarajevo if we want to have freedom here,” said Dodik.
Dodik is trying in vain to hide behind the Parliament and drag the opposition into a story that can no longer be unraveled, believes journalist Goran Dakić.
“If we leave aside all the insults Dodik and all the hypocritical and cowardly smiles of Nenad Stevandić, it is clear that the government in RS is going from one criminal act to another. Neither according to the constitution nor the laws can a referendum overturn any verdict,” said Dakić.
A referendum asking RS citizens to vote on the verdict against Milorad Dodik is scheduled for October 25th, Federalna writes.
