Zeljka Cvijanovic to serve as “acting RS President” amid dispute over Dodik’s ban

In its statement, the NSRS said Cvijanovic’s appointment aims to guarantee the uninterrupted functioning of the Office of the President, which it claims has been obstructed by “unconstitutional and unlawful actions” of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Court and Central Election Commission (CEC).

According to the Assembly, those institutions have “prevented the democratically elected President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, from performing the duties of the office to which he was elected.”

“The National Assembly, as the constitutional and legislative authority of Republika Srpska and the representative body of all its citizens, has the obligation to use all legal instruments within its constitutional powers to ensure the functioning of Republika Srpska’s institutions. Therefore, it determines the need to appoint a person who will temporarily perform the duties of the President of Republika Srpska,” the statement read.

The NSRS further clarified that the temporary appointment will remain in effect until the decision is revoked by the Assembly, or at the latest, until the election and inauguration of a new President.

“This decision shall take effect the day after its publication in the Official Gazette of Republika Srpska,” the statement concluded.

The Assembly is scheduled to convene on Saturday. However, questions have already been raised regarding how Cvijanovic could legally serve as acting president while still holding her current position as a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Early elections for the presidency of Republika Srpska have been set for November 23. The Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) candidate is Sinisa Karan, while Branko Blanusa of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) is his main opponent.

The move follows a final ruling by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which banned Milorad Dodik from holding public office for the next six years. The Central Election Commission consequently stripped him of his mandate as President of Republika Srpska.