DODIK: SNSD CAN WIN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, STANIVUKOVIĆ IS THE BEST OPPONENT

BANJA LUKA, MAY 5 /SRNA/ – SNSD President Milorad Dodik said he is convinced that the party can win elections under any circumstances, adding that Draško Stanivuković would be their best opponent, as that would guarantee the SNSD victory.

Dodik said SNSD has at least five possible candidates for the upcoming elections, but that there is still time before nominations are made. "Only those who do not know what to do with themselves are talking about candidates today. When the time comes, we will propose our candidates and enter the campaign. A candidate must be a patriot, recognizable, have an undisputed war record, be educated, systematic and dedicated to the Republic and its progress", Dodik told reporters in Banja Luka. He stated that the upcoming elections have been positioned as a political battle between Sarajevo and Banja Luka. "On Sarajevo's side is the political interest of Bosniaks, who want a structure according to their will, together with a number of foreigners and, unfortunately, the opposition from Republika Srpska. On the side of Banja Luka is SNSD and its coalition partners, trusted by the citizens of Republika Srpska. Banja Luka must win," Dodik said. The SNSD leader stressed he does not deal with the opposition, which for six months has been talking about forming a coalition that has still not been realized. "The basic question is - maybe you will do something under pressure from foreigners, maybe someone will mention one name, but what will you do afterwards? Will you be united? You will not, you are not even today", Dodik stressed. Dodik pointed to the recent early elections for the president of Republika Srpska as an example of SNSD’s strength and that of its coalition partners, saying they won even under unfavorable circumstances. He said they entered those elections to stabilize the situation and continue processes that have produced strong results, presented yesterday on the occasion of the Government of Republika Srpska marking its first 100 days in office. "Having a gross domestic product of 20 billion BAM and BAM 6.6 billion in investments can be considered a highly productive economy and society. When someone has 10 percent investments in GDP, they are considered successful, and we have more than 30 percent", Dodik said. He added that the total debt of Republika Srpska stands at 34 percent, while public debt is 31 percent, which he said is the lowest level of indebtedness in the region.