CVIJANOVIĆ: CEC CONTRIBUTES PLAN TO WEAKEN SRPSKA; WE WILL SHOW STRENGTH OF SNSD

BANJA LUKA, December 25 /SRNA/ – SNSD Vice President Željka Cvijanović said that, following the decision of the Central Election Commission /CEC/ to annul the snap presidential elections at 136 polling stations, it is evident that there is a hidden plan to weaken the institutions of Republika Srpska, stressing that the party will demonstrate its strength.

Cvijanović emphasized that SNSD rejects the practice of inconsistency in the work of the CEC, explaining that they carefully listened to statements, particularly those of CEC member Vlado Rogić, who warned that the CEC is acting inconsistently. "They take different approaches when it comes to two candidates. We have always been consistent in saying that the truth should be upheld and verified, but this shows that there is a hidden plan to weaken the institutions of Republika Srpska on the orders of Christian Schmidt," Cvijanović said at a press conference in Banja Luka following a session of the party’s Executive Committee. She stressed that both SNSD membership and officials maintain that the result of the snap elections is unquestionable, in which the party’s candidate Siniša Karan emerged victorious. "The party will show its strength with even greater will and ambition to make that result even better. The elections should not have taken place in the first place. The CEC is acting unconvincingly and holds differing views. They are deliberately dragging out the processes," Cvijanović said. She pointed out that it was Schmidt who extended the mandate of the CEC members and questioned how they would cope with the general elections next year. "All these activities are aimed at favoring a candidate who did not receive a sufficient number of votes to become President of Republika Srpska. What the CEC is doing is undermining credibility and trust in their ability to conduct elections," Cvijanović stressed. CEC of BiH yesterday adopted a non-final decision to annul the snap elections for President of Republika Srpska at 136 polling stations in 17 electoral units. The early elections were annulled at certain polling stations in Prijedor, Laktaši, Banja Luka, Doboj, Stanari, Lopare, Ugljevik, Osmaci, Vlasenica, Zvornik, Bratunac, Nevesinje, Gacko, Rudo, Bileća, Milići and Brčko.