Schmidt powerless against Dodik: Failed to prevent January 9th celebration, and no one prosecuted for violating Constitutional Court decision

(Patria) - High Representative Christian Schmidt reiterated that the celebration of January 9th as the Day of Republika Srpska is a clear and direct failure to implement the final and binding decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the decisions of the High Representative of July 1, 2023.

He warned that non-compliance with the decisions of the Constitutional Court constitutes a criminal offense under the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"It is up to law enforcement agencies, the BiH Prosecutor's Office, and the police to take appropriate legally prescribed next steps, especially in cases related to public officials and civil servants and their participation in the preparation or organization of the January 9th celebration.

The rule of law is an indispensable prerequisite for a stable and prosperous future for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with communication, dialogue, and compromise. These should be the guiding principles in deciding on the marking of the Day of Republika Srpska, as only then will this
be a holiday that all citizens can accept and celebrate, and which can strengthen ties among the citizens of RS, rather than further divide them," added the High Representative.

However, let us recall Schmidt's statement from January 16, 2023, after the RS authorities nevertheless marked January 9th with a central event in East Sarajevo. The only thing that changed, and not to Schmidt's credit, is the location where the parade for the Day of RS on January 9th, which the BiH Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional, will be held. Instead of East Sarajevo, the parade will be in Banja Luka again, and a night parade is also planned, as announced by the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"I said that public officials have no business there, and that is why I assume that everything that happened there will be carefully analyzed and verified. Now we must move away from January 9, 2023, and look to the future. It should be said that January 9, 2024, will not happen in that framework and in that way. Therefore, both state and entity holidays can be celebrated, but this can be done in a different way, and no one will lose their crown for it," Schmidt told Oslobođenje.

However, no one has been prosecuted, nor will the RS authorities give up celebrating the unconstitutional January 9th. But instead of an adequate reaction, such as the announced imposition of amendments to the Election Law on the integrity package, Schmidt presumably expects the RS authorities, led by indicted Milorad Dodik, to abandon the planned celebration themselves.

Both Schmidt and all of us know that this will not happen, and Schmidt has once again shown that he is powerless in the RS entity.

(A. Vrabac)