SAJIĆ: SNSD ABSOLUTE ELECTION WINNER, EVENTS INVOLVING DODIK INFLUENCED OUTCOME

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 10 /SRNA/ – The SNSD is the absolute election winner in Republika Srpska, while everything that happened to the party’s leader, Milorad Dodik, and to Republika Srpska over the past two years influenced the outcome, Nina Sajić, a professor at the Faculty of Political Science in Banja Luka, assessed.

"Certain SNSD members, above all Željka Cvijanović and Savo Minić, convinced voters that they could lead Republika Srpska. Despite extremely challenging and difficult times, Dodik managed to preserve the economic and political stability of Republika Srpska," Sajić said on the podcast by the Republika Srpska Media System – SRNA. She noted that the SNSD victory was unexpected for many, particularly in certain parts of Republika Srpska, such as Banja Luka. "I believe that Draško Stanivuković, the leader of the Safe Srpska Movement electoral list and Mayor of Banja Luka, is one of the election’s losers because Banja Luka is no longer a stronghold where he wins the most votes, as he has done over the past six or seven years. The SNSD has definitely returned to Banja Luka," Sajić emphasized. Sajić believes that the biggest loser in the elections was the PDP, which is gradually ceasing to exist politically, while the SDS failed to demonstrate the political strength required to take on some of the key political positions in Republika Srpska. Regarding the FBiH, Sajić said that the biggest winners were the HDZ and the SDA, even though SDA leader Bakir Izetbegović did not win the race for BiH Presidency membership. "For the first time, the SNSD and HDZ will be represented together in the BiH Presidency, which could be beneficial for the country within an informal coalition, as it could lead to greater efforts to adopt decisions that serve the interests of all constituent peoples," Sajić stressed. Asked whether there had been international pressure before the elections, Sajić said that pressure was always present in the Balkans, particularly in BiH, which is surrounded by various political currents and initiatives. "The introduction of new technologies itself is a form of pressure. It is a solution imposed from outside that should not have been introduced," Sajić emphasized. She assessed that the elections had demonstrated that all allegations against the SNSD concerning alleged manipulation of the electoral process had been directed at the wrong party. "Citizens chose the political parties or entities they believe are capable of providing them with stability," Sajić stressed.