With the exception of Banja Luka, where Milorad Dodik and his party, SNSD, have failed to secure the mayoral seat for two consecutive terms, Dodik continues to enjoy widespread support across most of the Republika Srpska (RS) entity.
Paradoxically, despite Dodik and his family receiving additional sanctions from the United States (U.S.) this year, alongside a broader circle of his associates, and despite clear financial downturns, challenges in funding the entity and its institutions, isolationist policies, and growing ties with Russia and Hungary’s right-wing leader Viktor Orban, the leader of RS has not suffered significant political damage.
On the contrary, Dodik remains a key and dominant political figure. His candidates for municipal and mayoral positions have won in as many as 47 municipalities in RS. Except for PDP in Banja Luka and SDS in Bijeljina, Dodik faces virtually no competition.
This is symptomatic, given the numerous predictions and expectations that Dodik’s secessionist policies would cost him and that the financial collapse on various levels in RS would lead to a public uprising, yet, that has not happened.
Alongside the sanctions and poor financial situation, Dodik is also facing trial at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for refusing to implement the decisions of the High Representative. Dodik has leveraged this case to portray himself as a victim, framing the situation as if RS is being put on trial.
Dodik also continues to resist appointing judges to the Constitutional Court of BiH in the National Assembly of RS (NARS) and refuses to implement the decisions of that court within the entity he governs. Due to his obstructionist approach, BiH has not yet been granted approval for the reform agenda under the European Union (EU) Growth Plan, which includes an initial tranche of 70 million euros in aid.
The overwhelming support from citizens only strengthens Dodik’s position, further empowering him to pressure the international community to continue his policies of obstruction, blackmail, and secessionism, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
