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Republic of Srpska’s parliament votes to close High Representative’s office

According to the Republic of Srpska’s TV and radio broadcaster, the resolution was supported by 57 out of 60 lawmakers present at the session

BELGRADE, May 26. /TASS/. The parliament of the Republic of Srpska (one of the two constituent entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina) approved by a majority vote a resolution calling for the abolition of the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to the Republic of Srpska’s TV and radio broadcaster, the resolution was supported by 57 out of 60 lawmakers present at the session. The document calls on the UN Security Council to pass a resolution terminating the high representative’s mandate and shutting dowm his office.

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.

In fact, the country is governed via the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose office was set up under the Dayton Agreement and who is appointed by the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) upon the UN Security Council’s consent. However, in 2021, the Board members appointed Hans Christian Schmidt of Germany to the post without agreeing his candidature with the UN Security Council. For these reasons, his legitimacy has been challenged by the Republic of Srpska.

On May 10, Schmidt said he had tendered his resignation but will continue working until his successor is elected. Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik said on the following day that the Republic of Srpska would seek to limit the mandate of Schmidt’s successor to two years.

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