BANJAC: COURT OF BIH AND CEC TRYING TO IMPOSE CRISIS IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

BANJALUKA, DECEMBER 25 /SRNA/ – NPS leader Darko Banjac said that the Court of BiH and the Central Election Commission /CEC/ are persistent in attempts to create a crisis in Republika Srpska, but stressed that the ruling coalition and the Serb population remain determined to ensure that no one else decides the President of the Republic.

Following a meeting of the ruling coalition in Banja Luka, Banjac stated that the Court of BiH and CEC intend to exhaust the citizens of Republika Srpska, but this has not happened. He explained that the ruling coalition organized early elections with sufficient capacity to ensure that the SNSD candidate Siniša Karan won and became President of Republika Srpska. "Then they claim the elections were irregular. This time they did not even count, because if they had, Karan is already President. Instead, they fabricated an excuse and annulled the elections at 136 polling stations, without conducting any recounts at those locations," Banjac said. He emphasized that it is essential to show that the ruling coalition is not exhausted and will operate at full capacity. Banjac further noted that it must be clearly demonstrated in the coming period that Siniša Karan is the legitimate President of Republika Srpska and that no one else will select the president. "They would repeat elections until their preferred candidate is elected. Afterwards, the Constitutional Court could declare the government illegal, enabling that president to nominate the prime minister and dissolve the National Assembly," Banjac said. He added that all of these actions aim to provoke a crisis in Republika Srpska, potentially halting salaries and pensions, which would benefit SDS candidate Branko Blanuša. "We are fighting for the stability of Republika Srpska. Everyone in a position of responsibility must roll up their sleeves, even cancel New Year celebrations, to show political Sarajevo that we are not fatigued and that we represent the will of the people," Banjac concluded. The CEC of BiH yesterday adopted a non-final decision to annul the early elections for the President of Republika Srpska at 136 polling stations in 17 electoral units. The early elections were annulled at certain polling stations in Prijedor, Laktaši, Banjaluka, Doboj, Stanari, Lopare, Ugljevik, Osmaci, Vlasenica, Zvornik, Bratunac, Nevesinje, Gacko, Rudo, Bileća, Milići, and Brčko.