The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina has rejected a proposal to reconsider the decision to certify the application of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) for early elections for the president of Republika Srpska.
The proposal to renew the procedure was submitted by CEC member Suad Arnautović, who stated that he submitted the request after the letter from the Court of BiH. The letter, among other things, requests the implementation of the verdict that sentenced Milorad Dodik, president of the SNSD, to one year in prison and a six-year ban on political activity.
“Ignoring the verdict of the Court of BiH is not only a formal violation, but also a fundamental nullification of the authority of the judiciary,” said Arnautović, recalling that he had also opposed the certification of the SNSD for participation in the elections, believing that Dodik could not have signed the application.
On the other hand, CEC member Ahmet Šantić emphasized that the Commission does not have the authority to remove the president of any party from office.
“The CEC cannot remove the party president from office for any reason; this can only be done by the registration court. The person who has been representing the political party so far remains authorized, as the CEC has already decided, and this decision was confirmed by the Appellate Division,” said Šantić.
