REFERENDUM IS A MECHANISM TO PROTECT ENTITY AUTONOMY AND CITIZENS' RIGHT TO DECIDE

BANJA LUKA, AUGUST 16 /SRNA/ - Given the complex constitutional structure of BiH and frequent political disagreements between the entities, particularly among holders of political power and national communities, holding a referendum in Republika Srpska serves as a mechanism to protect the entity’s autonomy and the citizens’ right to decide on issues that directly affect their community, constitutional law professor Mile Dmičić told SRNA.

Dmičić added that a referendum, as a form of direct and free expression of the citizens’ will on matters of special importance, represents one of the key democratic achievements of modern society, the importance of which is especially highlighted in the context of Republika Srpska, given the constitutional and political circumstances in BiH. “In the given circumstances, it becomes a kind of guarantee of the political will of the people of Republika Srpska, allowing for a clear articulation of positions on vital issues, whether related to internal policy, constitutional matters, or relations with other levels of government,” Dmičić explained. He added that in a modern democratic, constitutional, legal, and political system, representative bodies such as the parliament and government make decisions on behalf of citizens. However, in the post-Dayton context, there are issues that, by their very nature, go beyond the scope of everyday political decision-making and touch the very core of the political, national, economic, or cultural identity of the community. It is precisely here, he emphasized, that a referendum gains its full significance, allowing the most important decisions to be legitimized directly by the people, without intermediaries. “This strengthens the democratic legitimacy of institutions and authorities, narrows the gap between citizens, or the electorate, and those in power, and fosters a sense of responsibility and unity. For this reason, a referendum in Republika Srpska also carries an additional symbolic and political dimension and weight,” Dmičić said. Dmičić emphasized that, although the results of a referendum in Republika Srpska are not legally binding for the National Assembly and may only have an advisory, consultative character, its political and social weight far exceeds the formal-legal framework and carries an almost binding political force. “A referendum generates a strong democratic imperative that authorities and institutions cannot and must not ignore. It reflects the direct expression of citizens’ will on a given issue and serves as a clear signal to authorities and institutions about the direction in which the people want the Republic and its society to move,” Dmičić said.