Dodik decides his party to run in Republika Srpska presidential vote

Dodik told journalists after a party meeting in Banja Luka that he was confident the SNSD candidate would win the 23 November vote, whoever it may be. The decision will follow consultations with coalition partners.

Dodik had previously resisted stepping down as RS president after being removed from office in August following a final court ruling sentencing him to one year in prison and a six-year ban from holding public office, for failing to implement High Representative Christian Schmidt's decisions. He initially vowed to block early elections for the RS president but has since changed his position.

"Today, the SNSD will register for the elections, even though we still think they should not take place. But others requested them, primarily the opposition," Dodik said. He added that he will propose to the RS parliament to appoint an acting president until the election and that the ruling structure in the entity "is continuing the fight against Schmidt and political Sarajevo."

Dodik also postponed a previously announced referendum on whether the ruling against him and the decision of the Central Election Commission to remove him as RS president should be complied with, now saying it will be held alongside the presidential election.

The opposition Serb Democratic Party (SDS) on Sunday nominated Branko Blanuša, a professor at Banja Luka's Faculty of Electrical Engineering, as its candidate. Media reports suggest Dodik may nominate long-time ally and current RS minister Sinisa Karan as the SNSD candidate.

Whichever candidate wins on 23 November will serve less than a year, as regular elections are scheduled for October 2026.