Bosnian court rules major decisions made by Republika Srpska lawmakers null and void

Constitutional Court blocks Serb entity from establishing army, high council of judges, separate taxation system

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced on Tuesday that the transfer of state powers to the entity level is invalid, ruling major decisions made by Republika Srpska (RS) lawmakers null and void.

According to an official statement, the decisions made by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's two entities, on the establishment of an army at the entity level, the exit from the taxation system, and the establishment of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors within the entity were deemed invalid.

The ruling came after members of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Assembly filed an application with the court, stating that the RS's decisions breached the state's authority and the constitution. They said that RS adopted a separatist policy by attempting to bring national institutions to the level of the entity.

The court's decision prevents the RS National Assembly from making any decisions about state institutions.

Milorad Dodik, a Serb member of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Presidential Council, has stated that the decisions made in the RS National Assembly will be executed anyway.

"Are you sure that the constitutional court has canceled all the decisions?" Dodik asked, describing Bosnia and Herzegovina as a country where "anything can happen at any time."

He claims that the court rulings will be rendered void the day Bosnia and Herzegovina is awarded candidate country status by the European Union (EU).

"I want you to know that we will do what we aim for. We may have delayed it due to the Russia-Ukraine war, but don't be misled. We will wait for the right time to implement some decisions,'' he remarked.

Denis Zvizdic, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on social media welcomed the decision as another victory for the state.

Dodik had previously ensured that the bill on transferring the powers of the nationally authorized Bosnia-Herzegovina Medicines and Medical Equipment Agency to a new institution to be established within the RS was approved in the National Assembly.

Kaynak:

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