SAVIĆ: ELECTIONS - THE FINAL ACT IN A PLAY DIRECTED BY SCHMIDT AND MURPHY

BANJA LUKA, November 15 /SRNA/ - Political scientist Vojislav Savić told SRNA that the upcoming early elections in Republika Srpska are a necessary evil and represent the final act of a play directed by Christian Schmidt and former U.S. Ambassador Michael Murphy.

"They first initiated a trial. One process, then another. An appeal followed. However, when Murphy withdrew and Schmidt lost momentum, that engine shut down. Only this act remains," Savić emphasized. He stated that holding elections with both the ruling coalition and the opposition participating is, under the circumstances, a rational move, despite being a forced and undesirable one. "Now the two sides will measure their strength, and legitimacy will be given to the winner," Savić said in SRNA's podcast. He added that before political parties in Republika Srpska decided to nominate candidates, there had been room for alternative action, but political differences prevented a unified approach or decision. "Had they agreed not to participate, someone would still have run, and a single polling station could have determined the outcome. If neither the government nor the opposition in Republika Srpska recognized that winner, Sarajevo and the Central Election Commission /CEC/ of BiH would, by granting a mandate - creating a constitutional crisis. Even if both government and opposition boycotted the elections, Republika Srpska would still be branded as the problem," Savić explained. He noted that even an attempt to prevent the elections from being held in Republika Srpska would have been problematic. "In that case, you present yourself as the source of instability - something Sarajevo has persistently tried to impose for the past 30 years. The third option would have been for only the opposition to participate, allowing them to 'walk into' the Palace of the Republic uncontested - which, in my view, would have been complete political folly," Savić assessed. He concluded that BiH is entering a new phase in internal relations once the early elections in Republika Srpska are held, as this will complete the process aimed at eliminating Srpska’s political representatives and weakening its institutions. "The more important question is how Sarajevo will react to the new reality. The process is finished - this is the final act, the curtain is coming down. A new era begins, one without an American ambassador and without a high representative," Savić said.