Bosnia and Herzegovina - August 2025

Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska (RS), one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), has publicly rejected the Central Electoral Commission (CEC)’s decision to revoke his mandate, reached on 6 August. The CEC’s move followed the BiH State Court’s appellate ruling upholding Dodik’s conviction for defying the High Representative and undermining the central government’s authority, confirming a one-year prison sentence and a six-year ban from holding public office. The prison sentence was later converted into a fine of BAM 36,500 (EUR 18,660). On 18 August, the BiH State Court rejected Dodik’s appeal of the CEC decision, making his removal from office final and binding. The CEC has scheduled early elections for the RS Presidency on 23 November. On 22 August, the Parliament of Republika Srpska voted in favour of an entity-wide referendum on whether to accept the State Court’s verdict and Dodik’s removal from office, scheduled for 25 October.

Sources:  Balkan Insight (1),  Balkan Insight (2),  Al Jazeera, European Western Balkans, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, International IDEA

Update: On 18 October, Ana Trišić-Babić, an associate of Milorad Dodik and former deputy foreign minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), was confirmed as interim president of the Republika Srpska (RS), following a ban on Dodik holding public office. Trišić-Babić is expected to serve until the early presidential elections scheduled for 23 November. A referendum on whether to accept the State Court’s previous conviction of Dodik, initially scheduled for 25 October, did not take place.  

Sources: Al Jazeera, Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2), Balkan Insight (3), Sarajevo Times