The Bosnian Serb state (Republika Srpska, RS) will soon adopt its own electoral law and hold its own elections, a process currently managed by the central election commission, its president Milorad Dodik announced on Wednesday, AFP reported.

It is another blow the Bosnian Serb leader wants to deal to the central level of power in the Balkan country, which is divided along communal lines.

In June 2023, the Parliament of the Republika Srpska (RS) adopted a law prohibiting the application of decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia in this entity.

Despite the cancellation of this law by the international high representative in this country, Christian Schmidt, it was proclaimed by Milorad Dodik, who was later accused by the local justice of abandoning the powers of this emissary, whose role is to ensure compliance with the peace agreement.

“We are determined to create a new law (…) the electoral law of the Republika Srpska,” Dodik told the media at the end of a meeting in Banja Luka (north), the capital of the Serbian entity, with the leaders of the ruling coalition parties.

According to Dodik, this new legislation will entrust the election commission of the RS to organize elections in the Serbian region to elect the president, members of parliament, as well as mayors and municipal councils.

The leader of the Bosnian Serbs explained that the Central Election Commission will, as before, be responsible for organizing the voting for the elections of the deputies of the central parliament of Bosnia and the members of the collegial president of the country.

“The law is already ready and will soon be submitted to the parliament of the subject for adoption “in an accelerated manner”, – he noted.

Following the end of the intercommunal war, which claimed nearly 100,000 lives between 1992 and 1995, Bosnia was divided into two largely autonomous entities, Serb and Bosnian Croat, linked by central institutions.

In the post-war years, under international pressure, major reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s central institutions at the expense of subjects were introduced.

This process has been slowed down by Milorad Dodik, who has been in power since 2006 and is now trying to return the powers transferred to the central level.

Since 2001, the Central Election Commission has been organizing elections throughout the country.

This announcement comes at a time when the international high representative mentions the possibility of introducing changes to the current electoral law to combat irregularities.

The next municipal elections will be held in the fall, and the general elections in 2026.