A day after the General Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a clear election message in Republika Srpska – SNSD achieved a convincing victory, while the opposition recorded a worse result than expected. The government announces the continuation of the current policy and the majority in the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska, while the opposition parties announce an analysis of the election results. The assessment is that the low turnout was a key factor.
SNSD convincingly won the most votes in Republika Srpska. Željka Cvijanović and Savo Minić are the winners in the race for two different positions. Dominance is illustrated by the fact that out of 64 municipalities, Minić won in as many as 55 municipalities against candidate Branko Blanuša. The political views of this party, it was said, remain unchanged.
MILORAD DODIK, president of SNSD
“This is redefining relations within Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, which desecrated the Dayton Agreement. We see the only chance is to return to the original Dayton Agreement, if they still want it. Maybe they will have a chance for a while, then we’ll see what we do.”
While the SNSD announces a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly of the RS with coalition partners, the opposition announces an in-depth analysis. SDS President Branko Blanuša believes that the calculations during the selection of candidates for individual functions did not affect the election result.
BRANKO BLANUŠA, president of SDS
“The greater impact was how engaged all the opposition parties were in the field when it came to promoting joint candidates. When I talk about it, I’m also talking about my parent party, SDS, but also about all other opposition parties that declaratively supported me as a candidate.”
The People’s Front was left without a parliamentary mandate. The Safe Srpska movement received the support of 15 percent of voters. They expect deputies from almost all nine constituencies in the Republika Srpska, as well as two deputies in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
DRAŠKO STANIVUKOVIĆ, president of the Safe Srpska Movement
“The Safe Srpska movement increased its electoral result by over 50 percent in the entire Republika Srpska, and today we can officially say that we are the second strongest political organization in the entire Republika Srpska.”
Total disappointment reigned in the List for Justice and Order. They expected to be the surprise of the election, but they experienced a political shock.
NEBOJŠA VUKANOVIĆ, president of the List for Justice and Order
“DNS deputies in the National Assembly did not say a single word and grew as a party in these elections, and on the other hand, we had by far the most discussions and fights, traveled hundreds of thousands of kilometers and had a fall. I think these elections are simply as much money as music. This people loves money, loves promises, loves lies and fraud.”
The government in Republika Srpska has been rewarded. The opposition records an overall bad election result. One of the key reasons is the low turnout.
TANJA TOPIĆ, political analyst
“Somewhere, it is simply incomprehensible to you that people who are being prosecuted, those people against whom there are serious charges… I would simply say that the citizens rewarded and amnestied the previous government for all corruption, crime, nepotism, clientelism.”
The elections brought SNSD the best election result since 2006, which will enable them to rule in Republika Srpska continuously for 24 years. The opposition faces a serious redefinition.
