Dodik announces his party’s victory at elections, thanks Putin for support
The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina said that the party’s candidates, Savo Minic and Zeljka Cvijanovic, are winning the elections of the Republika Srpska’s president and the entity’s member of the Presidency (Presidium) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively
BELGRADE, October 4. /TASS/. Milorad Dodik, leader of the ruling Alliance of Independent Social Democrats in Republika Srpska (one of the two constituent entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina), has announced the victory of his political force at Sunday’s elections and thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his support ahead of the voting.
"I announce our victory at all levels. Thank you all. We thank everyone who supported us," he told a news conference, adding that his party and its coalition partners will get two thirds of seats in the new parliament of the Republika Srpska.
"I want to thank our friends who contributed to this victory. I also thank [Russian] President Vladimir Putin who received us before the elections," he stressed.
Earlier, the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina said that the party’s candidates, Savo Minic and Zeljka Cvijanovic, are winning the elections of the Republika Srpska’s president and the entity’s member of the Presidency (Presidium) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively.
Under the constitution envisaged by the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dayton Agreement) of 1995, Bosnia and Herzegovina is comprised of two entities, namely the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (around 51% of the territory) and the Republic of Srpska (around 49%), as well as the Brcko District. The three key ethno-religious groups, i.e. Bosniaks (Slavs professing Islam), Serbs (Orthodox Christians), and Croats (Catholics), are proportionally represented in the state governance system.
