Dodik will try to curry favor with Vučić

The Americans have clearly stated that they are looking for a new approach and it is logical that they will wait for the elections to implement it, Daniel Server, an analyst at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, told the BiH news agency Patria (NAP), commenting on the statement by Bakir Izetbegović, Chairman of the Presidency of BiH.

According to Server, the results of this year's elections will affect the American engagement in BiH.

On the other hand, early parliamentary elections will be held in Serbia on March 16. Server believes that the position of Aleksandar Vučić, First Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), who is expected to become prime minister, will be strengthened.

- He and President Nikolić (Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić, editor's note) are not friends with Milorad Dodik (President of RS). In the last presidential elections, he supported a candidate who lost. But, friendships in the Balkans are not permanent. I expect Dodik to try to curry favor with Vučić, who, on the other hand, must do everything to avoid slowing down Serbia's European path – Server states.

According to him, Vučić told Dodik to stop talking about the independence of RS, meaning that cooperation with the authorities in Sarajevo should be established in order to take responsibility and start fulfilling the conditions for EU membership, which will automatically mean a faster path for Serbia to the EU.

Given the political situation in BiH, Server commented on the daily demonstrations and citizens' plenums in BiH for the news agency Patria.

- I believe it is completely justified that the citizens of BiH complain about corruption, nepotism, unemployment, the social situation, and politicians' privileges. As long as the demonstrations are not violent, they can attract a crowd, because the demands are justified. However, this dissatisfaction can be exploited for political purposes. Nationalist parties are exerting pressure and want to use the demonstrations for their own promotion – Server states.

Some of the demonstrators have already been questioned by the BiH Court on suspicion of terrorism for setting fire to the BiH Presidency building and attacking the constitutional order of the state.

Server, in this regard, believes that "someone must direct the citizens' dissatisfaction and manifest it through democratic principles into a reform program that can gain a large number of votes and achieve changes legitimately.".

- BiH is not an example of ideal democracy, but election results are respected – Server concluded.