Dodik works in cooperation with international officials, but lacks the strength for major trouble

(Patria) - SNSD President Milorad Dodik ultimately backed down - he admitted the BiH Court's verdict, paid the prison sentence, and resigned from the position of president of the smaller BiH entity.

Let's recall that the secessionist, among other things, recently confidently claimed that he recognized neither BiH's judicial institutions nor High Representative Christian Schmidt. In the end, he was convicted precisely by BiH judiciary and precisely because of that same Schmidt.

Yesterday, Dodik publicly admitted that he fears the BiH Court, which he claimed not to recognize. Among other things, he said that he does not sign documents as president of Republika Srpska because each signature would lead him to a new court process in which "they would sentence him to several years in prison".

What has changed in the meantime - we asked the vice-president of the American-European Alliance, Reuf Bajrović. Bajrović says that the reason for the sudden turn is an agreement between Dodik and the international community.

- That agreement included Dodik not going to prison and retaining all political power. He admitted that, well, he is no longer the president of Republika Srpska, but he remains the president of SNSD, which more or less controls all important political processes in this country together with HDZ - Bajrović told the Patria News Agency (NAP).

Therefore, our interlocutor continues, it is clear that this agreement has been reached and that it implies that Dodik remains in power and the main decision-maker.

- Because if that agreement had not been reached, Schmidt would have certainly long ago issued a clear interpretation that Dodik cannot be the president of SNSD. And then it would be a different story.

But this now is realistically Dodik's victory, considering everything that has happened - emphasizes Bajrović, adding that the essence is that Dodik remains at the head of SNSD.

Commenting on Dodik's announced referendums, he recalled that he had already held one referendum in 2016, and the consequences of that were sanctions, which, however, apparently do not affect him.

- Realistically, he doesn't have the muscle for anything in terms of causing any serious trouble. And he objectively works more or less in agreement with international officials. And that is now completely clear.

After 20 years of Dodik's harassment, we should understand that Dodik is actually harassing us on behalf of the West - let's not lie to ourselves - emphasizes Bajrović.

The public in Republika Srpska accepts Dodik's frequent disregard for his own words because they understand that he sometimes has to do it to fulfill the goals that are demanded and expected of him, Bajrović believes.

- He has to lie. And they understand that those lies are part of a political game that sometimes requires saying what one does not think, given the circumstances and tactical needs.

Therefore, he has the full support of his voter base to do exactly that - block BiH institutions and their integration into anything, including the EU and NATO - assesses Bajrović.

He adds that he is surprised that anyone is surprised by such behavior. And simply referring to alleged inconsistencies in his story is proof that people do not understand what is really going on.

- So, the war against Bosnia and Herzegovina, after failing in the 90s, has now moved into the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the framework of the Dayton Peace Agreement - says Bajrović.

Regardless of Dodik's disregard for his own political principles, Bajrović points out that his voters still use reason when they unreservedly give their votes to SNSD and its candidates from one election cycle to the next.

- They very clearly demand that it be done exactly like that. It is simply the policy of expanding Serbia at the expense of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is no cognitive dissonance there. And when his statements seem illogical, even when they contradict each other within a few days, people who support such a policy understand it as a matter of given political circumstances - Bajrović believes.

Finally, we asked him which candidate in the early elections for the president of Republika Srpska is the lesser evil for Bosniaks in Republika Srpska and for the state of BiH in general - SNSD's Siniša Karan or SDS's Branko Blanuša?

- It doesn't matter to Bosniaks. It's the same policy, and generally, it might be better if Karan doesn't win. Our people should vote for someone we know will do less damage - concludes Bajrović in a statement for NAP.

(D.K.)