MAZALICA: ANA TRIŠIĆ BABIĆ PROPOSED TO PERFORM DUTIES OF PRESIDENT

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 18 /SRNA/ – The Head of the SNSD Caucus in the Republika Srpska National Assembly Srđan Mazalica says that Ana Trišić Babić has been proposed to perform the duties of the Republika Srpska president until a new president is elected.

"The National Assembly is acting to protect the Republika Srpska Constitution and it is necessary to ensure the continuity of the functioning of the Republika Srpska president institution," Mazalica said at a special session of the National Assembly. He has noted that this ensures the uninterrupted functioning of institutions, and that the decision is in line with a 2007 ruling of the Republika Srpska Constitutional Court. The reasons of the decision state that, due to some political parties’ decision to participate in imposed elections, a clear need has arisen for the National Assembly to act in defence of the Republika Srpska Constitution in the context of unconstitutional and unlawful activities by the Court of BiH and the Central Election Commission of BiH, whose decisions prevent the democratically elected Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik from performing his duties. "This created circumstances which require the National Assembly’s decision to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of the Republika Srpska president institution. By deciding which individual will serve as acting president, the Republic's interest in maintaining the smooth operation of its institutions will be fulfilled," the reasoning reads. As further emphasized, this will protect the principle of constitutionality and legality in the functioning of institutions.