The Croatian vice-president of Republika Srpska, Davor Pranjić, assumed the presidential duties in place of the informal leader of that entity, Milorad Dodik, and signed the decrees on the promulgation of two laws, which de facto recognize the decisions of BiH institutions on Dodik's dismissal.
As announced by the office of Milorad Dodik, who still presents himself as the president of Republika Srpska despite being dismissed by the Central Election Commission and the decision upheld by the Court of BiH, Pranjić signed the document based on Dodik's decision. They explained that "Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik authorized him to sign decrees as vice president, in addition to being the president."
RS leader Dodik and the leadership of Republika Srpska publicly refuse to accept the verdict of the Court of BiH and the decisions of the Central Election Commission of BiH that strip him of his presidential mandate.
However, by transferring authority to the Croatian vice president, these decisions were formally implemented by the BiH institutions.
Milorad Dodik was sentenced by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to one year in prison and a six-year ban on political activity for disobeying the decisions of the High International Representative Christian Schmidt, whose authority he disputes.
Early elections for the president of the Republic of Srpska are scheduled for November 23.
Pranjic this week signed a decree promulgating two laws passed by the Republika Srpska National Assembly. One of them envisages the introduction of a reserve police force in the entity, which has been criticized by the Office of the High Representative and the European Union Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Photo: HINA/Daniel KASAP
