Dodik: We will suspend the decision on the referendum on the Court and Prosecutor's Office, but we will not give up on it

Representatives of the ruling coalition in Republika Srpska, consisting of SNSD, SP, and DNS, held a meeting today after which they stated that the coalition is united and strong.

They particularly lashed out at the opposition, which did not attend the session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska last week.

DNS President Marko Pavić stated that "one cannot achieve any profit through illegal work".

We in the coalition want peace to prevail in Republika Srpska, for institutions to deal with their problems, and to make life as good as possible for citizens. We will continue to work at full capacity, but we must not allow these problems to distract us from our plans for next year – Pavić said.

SP President Petar Đokić stated that the goal is to preserve the stable functioning of all institutions, especially the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, as it was brutally attacked by the opposition through violations of the rules of procedure.

Republika Srpska has restless opponents, those who cannot accept that Republika Srpska is not a destabilizing factor. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has not been functioning for several mandates, and there has been a complete collapse of state authority, which also includes members of the opposition from Republika Srpska. The intention is to destabilize Republika Srpska in order to show that the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina is in crisis – Đokić said.

Government representatives told citizens that they are their top priority and that they will continue to act responsibly and conscientiously.

We call on the opposition to fight for their goals with the force of argument, not force, and not to obstruct the legal work of institutions.

SNSD and Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik confirmed that the decision on the referendum on the Court and Prosecutor's Office will be suspended, but that they will not give up on it.

We do not see that this should be a problem. We are permanently dissatisfied with the usurpation of competencies; it is not a problem to withdraw the decision at one of the upcoming sessions of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska. We are not giving up on this, and the issue will remain to be problematized again. A consensus is needed for any referendum, and these opposition members do not even know where they are or what they are.

Dodik also spoke about Catalonia, stating that Republika Srpska managed to fight its way through a dramatically more difficult situation.

He also announced the adoption of a new law on referendums so that they no longer depend on the "Central Election Commission in Sarajevo."

- A referendum is a way for us to achieve freedom – Dodik said.