Politics of Republika Srpska

This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Republika Srpska

This article is about the politics of the Republika Srpska, one of the two entities that together comprise the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Presidents of Republika Srpska

National Assembly

The current National Assembly of the Republika Srpska (Народна Скупштина Републике Српске / Narodna Skupština Republike Srpske) is the eighth since the founding of the Republika Srpska.

The political composition of the Seventh Convocation of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska (and the change in number of seats from the Sixth Convocation):

Cabinet

The cabinet is composed of the prime minister and the heads of the sixteen ministries. The National Assembly also selects two deputy prime ministers from among the ministers from different constituent peoples (Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks) on the recommendation of the prime minister.

The law requires that eight ministers be elected from the Serb population, five from the Bosniak population, and three from the Croat population. The prime minister may also appoint one minister from among the "others" population (out of the largest constituent ethnic group).

Under the Law on Ministries adopted in October 2002, the "tasks of the administration" of Republika Srpska are carried out by ministries, republican administrative units, and republican administrative organizations.

Field Minister
Prime Minister Željka Cvijanović
Finance Zoran Tegeltija
Internal Affairs Stanislav Čađo
Justice Džerard Selman
Administration and local government Zoran Lipovac
Economic relations and co-ordination Jasna Brkić
Labour Rade Ristović
Trade and tourism Predrag Gluhaković
Economy, energy and development Slobodan Puhalac
Traffic and infrastructure Nedeljko Čubrilović
Agriculture and forestry Radivoje Bratić
Planning, construction and ecology Srebrenka Golić
Education and culture Anton Kasipović
Refugees and displaced persons Omer Branković
Health and social protection Ranko Škrbić
Science and technology Bakir Ajanović
Family, youth and sport Nada tešanović

Prime Ministers of Republika Srpska

Ministries

Administrative Services

Administrative services in RS are administrative bodies within the ministries, and are established for the purpose of performing certain activities from within the sphere of activity of the administration, which, due to their nature, entirety and way of performing, require independence and special organization (administration, inspectorates, and other forms). Administrative services are under the direct supervision of the ministry to which they belong.

The following are the administrative units and the ministries to which they belong:

Administrative Organizations

Administrative organizations in the RS are established for the purpose of performing professional duties and duties of the republic's administration (institutions, directorates, secretariats, agencies, commissariats, funds, centers and other forms). Administrative organizations may have the attributes of a legal entity.

Current situation

Bosnian Serb nationalist politicians threaten to separate Republika Srpska from Bosnia and Herzegovina entirely.[1] The Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik said a referendum on independence for RS was a fair solution and that 99 percent of Bosnian Serbs support secession from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dodik stated that this referendum is "inevitable" and says that Bosnia and Herzegovina has no viable future.[2]

Bosniak politicians request for the suspension of Republika Srpska, saying that it was created on the backbone of genocide and war crimes. Haris Silajdžić, party leader of Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, has repeatedly stated that he wishes to see the RS dismantled.[3][4]

Miroslav Lajčák, former High Representative of Bosnia-Herzegovina, has responded to this by saying that "Republika Srpska does not have the right to secede from BiH, at the same time no one can unilaterally abolish Republika Srpska."[5] President of Serbia Boris Tadić says that Serbia does not support a breakup of Bosnia and that, as a guarantor of the Dayton Accords that brought peace to Bosnia, supports Bosnia’s territorial integrity.[6]

Serbia-Republika Srpska relations

In 1997, the Agreement on Special Parallel Relations was signed between the two in February 28, 1997. A council has been established to bolster relations, in which presidents and prime ministers participate. The Agreement was implemented December 15, 2010.[7] So far, four councils have been held.

On July 26, 2010, the Serbian Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinović and her Republika Srpska counterpart Aleksandar Džombić signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the Financial Sector, which will further develop mutual relations in the financial system. It will bolster the already good cooperation between the two, and help to maintain special parallel relations and enable exchange of experience, also discussing other sections. The working groups will convene at least twice a year.[8]

Kosovo's unilateral proclamation of independence

On July 31, 2011, President Milorad Dodik said that the concept of a multi-ethnic state in Kosovo has failed, and that the solving of the Kosovo question has not been dealt with, stressing that Republika Srpska does not accept Kosovo as an independent country. Dodik said "The peaceful solution is evidently not a possible solution [...] We support Belgrade." in relation to the Kosovo police operation trying to take control of border crossings located in North Kosovo on July 25th.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Rhetoric: Western Balkan recipe
  2. ↑ Link to reprint of article by Croatian newsagency Hina
  3. ↑ "Bosnian Sackings". BBC. 2004-07-13. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  4. ↑ "Bosnian Elections". BBC News. 2006-10-13. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  5. ↑ "Existence of Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot be questioned". EUSR / OHR. 2008-01-30. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  6. ↑ Policy of peace
  7. ↑ http://emg.rs/en/news/serbia/141801.html
  8. ↑ Serbia, Republika Srpska improve relations in financial sector
  9. ↑ Dodik: Kosovsko pitanje nije rešeno
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