US Sanctions Helped Dodik: CEC Rejected SDS Application, Largest Opposition Party from Republika Srpska Cannot Participate in Elections!

(Patria) - The Serbian Democratic Party cannot participate in the Local Elections. The Central Election Commission of BiH made a decision rejecting the confirmation of the largest opposition party from Republika Srpska. The reason – SDS does not have a bank account. Five members of the CEC voted against SDS.

SDS, as stated at the CEC session, submitted an account opened in the name of a natural person, which is contrary to the valid Election Law of BiH.

“The application for certification of a political party or independent candidate consists of a list containing the first name and last name, original signature, valid ID card number, and unique personal identification number of each voter registered in the Central Voters' Register who supports the application of the political party or independent candidate. The application contains the account number for financing the election campaign,” stated Article 4.4 of the Election Law of BiH.

The Serbian Democratic Party has not had a bank account since March of this year. Namely, according to Capital's report from March 29th of this year, the only account of the Serbian Democratic Party through which this party operated due to sanctions was closed.

The reason for closing SDS's account is the sanctions imposed by the United States of America. Namely, SDS is the only political party on the blacklist of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). This party has been under sanctions for over two decades and had an account in only one bank in RS.

At the beginning of this year, US authorities pressured banks in BiH to close accounts of all individuals under sanctions by that country. The primary target of the US was SNSD cadres led by Milorad Dodik. However, this pressure is now actually causing more damage to the opposition than to Dodik's SNSD. Because Milorad Dodik's SNSD is not under US sanctions and this political party has accounts opened in banks. Thanks to this, Dodik's SNSD can participate in the elections, while the opposition SDS – cannot.

CEC member Suad Arnautović opposed the decision to reject SDS's registration for the Local Elections. He referred to the provisions of the Election Law according to which “a person authorized by the body can open” a campaign account.

CEC member Vanja Bjelica replied, stating that there is also another provision of the Election Law which stipulates that the party must be the owner of the account.

“If we were to certify SDS's participation with an account registered to a natural person, we would not be able to control the campaign financing,” Bjelica said.

CEC member Irena Hadžiabdić was also against the confirmation of SDS.

“By accepting an account of a natural person, we would be participating in illegal activities,” Hadžiabdić said.