RS National Assembly Constitutional Affairs Committee calls on Constitutional Court not to halt RS referendum

The Constitutional Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska today called on the Constitutional Court of BiH not to issue a temporary measure, i.e., not to halt the holding of the referendum in RS, announced for September 25, writes Patria. 

The Constitutional Court of BiH declared the marking of January 9, which is celebrated in RS as the Day of Republika Srpska, unconstitutional. The authorities in RS do not want to implement the Court's decision, so the National Assembly of RS adopted a Decision on holding a referendum on this issue. The referendum is also supported by the opposition in RS. 

The referendum question should read: "Do you support January 9 being marked and celebrated as the Day of Republika Srpska?".

Member of the Presidency of BiH Bakir Izetbegović requested from the Constitutional Court of BiH to issue a temporary measure, i.e., to annul the decision of the National Assembly of RS on holding the referendum.

The Constitutional Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of RS today requested the Constitutional Court not to accept Izetbegović's request. The National Assembly of RS previously requested that the Constitutional Court review the decision, by which the celebration of January 9 was declared unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court will consider this request from the National Assembly of RS at a session on September 17, writes Patria.