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Dodik is Defying the Ban, Rallying the Serbia-Majority Hangout

When the Bosnian federal court shoved Dodik out of office, he didn’t take it lying down. Just like a stubborn barber refusing a client who wants a cut, Dodik is demanding a public vote to decide his fate.

What the EU and the UK Are Saying

• EU delegation in Bosnia hammered home: “Respect the court ruling.” They warned that a referendum would be a blatant slap in the face of the rule of law.
• Britain’s ambassador Julian Reilly said it’s illegal and a clear threat to Bosnia’s sovereignty.

How Dodik’s Legal Circus Began

In February, the Bosnian federal court fined Dodik 19,000 euros for letting the UN envoy Christian Schmidt (yes, the same guy who’s been chairing peace talks since 2021) drop decisions on the %13 climax of Bosnia’s 1992‑95 war. Dodik avoided prison but paid the fine, only to have an appeals court lock him out of RS politics for six years.

RS Assembly’s Big-Event: The “Referendum on the Referendum”

Last Friday, 50 out of 65 lawmakers (the majority) signed the charm: “Do you accept the decisions of the foreign envoy and the court verdict?” The opposition stayed away, pushing back with their own warnings.

Dodik’s Power Play

He expects the Serbian majority to fire a “NO” (e.g., “It’s a low blow!”) to the question. In a twist, he’s hinting at a referendum on independence for the Serbian side. Since 2006, Dodik’s the top dog, and he blames Schmidt for the jolt.

What’s Happening in the Political Soup

• The RS parliament rejected Schmidt’s authority and demanded that Dodik keep his crown.
• The Bosnian Electoral Commission is gearing up to call in early elections for RS presidency.
• Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic resigned, leaving the crisis last minute. Dodik named Savo Minic, formerly the agriculture minister, as the new PM.
• Both Dodik and Viskovic have faces on the US sanctions list for undermining the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement.

The Bigger Picture

Since the post‑war split, Bosnia hangs in a lean set of central organs. Drops in any corner—like the RS parliament trying to shut federal police out—send ripples down the fragile constitutional rope. Dodik’s antics are a powder keg; get it right, and you’re hit by a nuclear report. Stay wrong, and the whole country might blow up. The dual push for a referendum and independence shows he’s dancing on a tightrope, and one misstep could collapse more than just his own position.