Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska, has once again stated that he will run in the general elections scheduled for 2026, but also that if he is defeated in those elections, it will mark his departure from politics.
“I will run in the next elections; I simply have the right to do so. All citizens of Republika Srpska have the right to run. I believe that only deeds can remain behind a politician… In Republika Srpska, behind me remains an organized hospital system, a system of finance, pensions, and constantly growing investments. So, I am not prone to praising myself, but in many respects, I have contributed with my associates, creating policies that have proven very conducive, successful, resilient to various pressures, and successful from the standpoint of realization in impossible circumstances,” Dodik said in an interview for the Banjaluka.net portal.
When asked how long he still sees himself in politics, Dodik revealed when he might withdraw.
“If I lose the next elections, that is my definitive departure from politics. But I am fighting not to lose, and I will not lose,” Dodik stated, adding:
“According to my assessment, since this opposition will not stabilize yet, I think that the next four years in power, that will be 2030, then in about ten years, I might leave politics. These are the best years for politics; my only problem is that I started early.”
He stated that when he definitively leaves politics, he will certainly no longer deal with anything related to it, but that before that, he must ensure that the SNSD remains strong.
“I am fighting to carry out a transfer within the SNSD itself, and as you can see, many younger people and middle-aged generations are significantly represented in the local structure and in the party leadership. I will be some kind of corrective for a while longer until I am sure that this SNSD ship, which is successful and winning, will continue to do so even without me. That will be my greatest life and political victory,” Dodik said.
Asked whether he considers the opposition in Srpska a serious political competitor to the SNSD in the elections, Dodik said that he always takes them seriously, even when they are not serious themselves.
Answering a question about which law will govern the next elections in the territory of Republika Srpska, Dodik said that this will still be decided.
“We will see how we will go to the elections; there is time for that. We already have laws passed in that regard. Of course, we are not irrational; there are many problems. We are looking for countries that would support our elections and say they are legitimate. There are countries that will do that. We are only asking for the Election Law to be respected, which says that the CEC determines policies for elections at other levels, but they have grown fond of it. They would now even manage local elections in Ribnik. It is difficult to endure, but it is good to see how impudent they are, and that will certainly contribute to our other decisions,” said the president of Republika Srpska.
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Source: Kurir, Photo: Printscreen Youtube