Milorad Dodik announced a referendum on his appeal from the office of president of the Republic of Serbia. The Central Election Commission decided to end his word of office after being sentenced to 1 year in prison and a six-year ban on public office. Dodik refuses to admit this decision and calls it unconstitutional. The referendum is about whether the president should accept decisions "destroying constitutional order".
Milorad Dodik announced at a press conference in Banja Luce that he would hold a referendum on his position. As he explained, the vote will concern whether the president of the Republic of Serbia should accept decisions destroying the constitutional order.
«If citizens say yes, the death conviction on RS will be signed. If "no", we will be ready to proceed the political struggle, regardless of individual consequences" - said Dodik.
Dodik questions the committee's decision
The president of the Republic of Serbia powerfully rejected the decision of the Central Election Commission to end his word of office. In his opinion, the CIC decision “infringes the constitutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia”.
Dodik stressed that the mandate of the president of the Republic of Serbia “was given to him by the people”. «I am not going to leave the Republic of Serbia nor to carry out the obligations which the nation has imposed on me» - he declared.
Sentence for obstruction of enforcement
The Central Electoral Commission took its decision after the appeal court issued a judgement last week confirming Dodik's conviction. The president was sentenced to a year in prison and a six-year ban on public service.
The Court of First Instance found Dodik guilty in February of obstructing the implementation of decisions taken by the advanced typical of the global Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt. Schmidt is liable for overseeing the implementation of the peace agreement negotiated in November 1995 at Dayton, USA.
Appeal procedure and elections
The decision to end the word of office of president of the Republic of Serbia will be final after the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has examined an appeal to which Milorad Dodik has the right. An appeal shall be lodged with the Appellate Division of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina within 2 days.
After this deadline, within 90 days, it is expected to announce an early presidential election in the Republic of Serbia. Dodik argues that the Central Election Commission is tasked with confirming the mandate, but if it does not grant it, it cannot collect it.
Jakub Bavolek (PAP) Note: This article was edited with Artificial Intelligence.
