A judicial removal and a contested vote: The 2025–26 Republika Srpska elections
In short: When the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina removed Milorad Dodik from office in June 2025, it triggered a high-stakes political drama. From accusations of fraud to international congratulations, the resulting presidential race serves as a tense case study on the friction between judicial authority and regional autonomy.
The electoral cycle began following a landmark first-instance verdict in February 2025, where Milorad Dodik was sentenced to one year of imprisonment and banned from the presidency for six years due to anti-constitutional conduct. Although Dodik initially refused to recognize the ruling—even introducing laws to bar federal law enforcement from his territory—the Court eventually confirmed his removal on August 6, 2025. His mandate was officially terminated retroactively to June 12, 2025, leading to early elections for a shortened ten-month term.
The political landscape fractured as the ruling Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) initially planned to boycott the vote before ultimately fielding Siniša Karan. The opposition, led by the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), nominated university professor Branko Blanuša. While the PDP party also flirted with a boycott, it eventually joined the opposition effort. These maneuvers highlighted deep divisions over whether the election was a legitimate transition or a maneuver to preserve the status quo.
The November 2025 vote saw Karan win with approximately 50.39% of the vote, though the margin was razor-thin. The Central Election Commission later annulled results in 17 municipalities due to recorded irregularities, leading to repeat elections on February 8, 2026. In that second round, Karan maintained his lead with 50.53%. While the opposition alleged fraud and called for recounts in major cities like Doboj and Zvornik, international figures including leaders from Hungary, Serbia, and Israel congratulated the SNSD victory.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025–26 Republika Srpska presidential election
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