ChromaCheetah
Well-known member
Bosnia's Serb-majority entity has installed Ana Trisic Babic as an interim president after Milorad Dodik was barred from politics by a state court. The move marks the first formal acknowledgment that Dodik is stepping aside, following a ruling that sentenced him to one year in prison and banned him from political office for six years.
The Republika Srpska parliament confirmed Babic's appointment on Saturday, stating that she would serve until early presidential elections scheduled for November 23. The confirmation also came with the annulment of several separatist laws passed under Dodik's rule that challenged the authority of an international envoy and Bosnia's constitutional court.
Dodik, a pro-Russian nationalist who had pushed for Republika Srpska to break away from Bosnia and join Serbia, had refused to vacate office despite receiving a political ban. He has continued to travel abroad and claim presidential powers while appealing the court's ruling.
The US Department of the Treasury announced on Friday that it had removed four Dodik allies from its sanctions list, a move he publicly welcomed as he campaigns to have sanctions against himself lifted. Dodik is currently sanctioned by the United States, United Kingdom, and several European governments for actions that undermine the Dayton peace agreement that ended Bosnia's 1992-95 war.
The appointment of Babic comes amid growing tensions in Bosnia over Dodik's rejection of international authority and his push for Republika Srpska's independence. The US-brokered Dayton Accords, which created two largely autonomous entities – Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation – remain the country's governing framework.
In August, Bosnia's electoral authorities stripped Dodik of his presidential mandate following an appeals court verdict that sentenced him to one year in prison and barred him from political office for six years. The decision was made under a rule that forces the removal of any elected official sentenced to more than six months in jail.
A Sarajevo court had convicted Dodik in February for refusing to comply with decisions issued by international envoy Christian Schmidt, who oversees implementation of the Dayton accords. Dodik had dismissed the ruling at the time, saying he would remain in power as long as he retained the backing of the Bosnian Serb parliament, which his allies control.
The appointment of Babic and the annulment of separatist laws passed under Dodik's rule demonstrate a shift towards greater acceptance of international authority in Republika Srpska. However, tensions remain high, with Dodik maintaining strong support from regional allies, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Bosnia remains governed by the US-brokered Dayton Accords, which ended a devastating war that killed about 100,000 people. The agreement created two largely autonomous entities – Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation – with shared national institutions, including the presidency, military, judiciary, and taxation system.
The early presidential elections scheduled for November 23 will provide an opportunity for Bosnia to address its deepening divisions and ensure a peaceful transition.
The Republika Srpska parliament confirmed Babic's appointment on Saturday, stating that she would serve until early presidential elections scheduled for November 23. The confirmation also came with the annulment of several separatist laws passed under Dodik's rule that challenged the authority of an international envoy and Bosnia's constitutional court.
Dodik, a pro-Russian nationalist who had pushed for Republika Srpska to break away from Bosnia and join Serbia, had refused to vacate office despite receiving a political ban. He has continued to travel abroad and claim presidential powers while appealing the court's ruling.
The US Department of the Treasury announced on Friday that it had removed four Dodik allies from its sanctions list, a move he publicly welcomed as he campaigns to have sanctions against himself lifted. Dodik is currently sanctioned by the United States, United Kingdom, and several European governments for actions that undermine the Dayton peace agreement that ended Bosnia's 1992-95 war.
The appointment of Babic comes amid growing tensions in Bosnia over Dodik's rejection of international authority and his push for Republika Srpska's independence. The US-brokered Dayton Accords, which created two largely autonomous entities – Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation – remain the country's governing framework.
In August, Bosnia's electoral authorities stripped Dodik of his presidential mandate following an appeals court verdict that sentenced him to one year in prison and barred him from political office for six years. The decision was made under a rule that forces the removal of any elected official sentenced to more than six months in jail.
A Sarajevo court had convicted Dodik in February for refusing to comply with decisions issued by international envoy Christian Schmidt, who oversees implementation of the Dayton accords. Dodik had dismissed the ruling at the time, saying he would remain in power as long as he retained the backing of the Bosnian Serb parliament, which his allies control.
The appointment of Babic and the annulment of separatist laws passed under Dodik's rule demonstrate a shift towards greater acceptance of international authority in Republika Srpska. However, tensions remain high, with Dodik maintaining strong support from regional allies, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Bosnia remains governed by the US-brokered Dayton Accords, which ended a devastating war that killed about 100,000 people. The agreement created two largely autonomous entities – Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation – with shared national institutions, including the presidency, military, judiciary, and taxation system.
The early presidential elections scheduled for November 23 will provide an opportunity for Bosnia to address its deepening divisions and ensure a peaceful transition.