"ĐAJIĆ" CASE AS MIRROR OF OPPOSITION

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, NOVEMBER 20 /SRNA/ – On the day when the video involving Vlado Đajić shook the public and the opposition rushed to seize easy political points, something happened that separates serious politics from political theatrics – Milorad Dodik made a move that, once again, qualitatively sets him apart from the rest of the political scene in Republika Srpska, states an opinion piece by the News Agency of Republika Srpska – SRNA.

Instead of calculating, waiting, delaying, or hoping the matter would "blow over," Dodik made a difficult but correct decision – immediately. At a moment when many expected attempts at downplaying the situation, he showed that SNSD does not shy away from responsibility. And that is where the difference between leadership and populism begins, the opinion piece states. Every crisis is both an opportunity and a minefield. In politics, the key is speed: speed of thought, speed of decision, speed of reaction. Draško Stanivuković, following an old reflex, planned a full "PR day": from morning recordings to afternoon selfie-activism. But politics is not Instagram. Instinct cannot be scheduled. One either has it or doesn't. Milorad Dodik does. He reacted before Stanivuković even managed to frame the "narrative of the day". A man with political experience understands that a crisis must be managed by preventing it from becoming a virus that spreads through society, but it must be cut off at the root. That is why the situation was brought under control while the opposition was still daydreaming its "ideal scenarios," the text notes. To understand the speed of the reaction, one only needs to look back a few months – to the court proceedings. In that scenario, Dodik did not run away from reality, did not look for an easier point of view, and did not wear rose-coloured glasses. Dodik views politics through a sharply focused political lens, always keeping his competition one step behind. The opposition cannot do that. They do not see reality as it is; they see what they wish it to be. That is an unbridgeable difference. It is no coincidence that everything unfolded in the week when Republika Srpska elects its president. The video did not aim solely at compromising an individual. Its goal was to create the impression of systemic decay. Intended to portray SNSD as a dysfunctional and disoriented structure. But Dodik recognized a far broader background. He understood that the response had to be more than just sanctioning Đajić; it had to demonstrate control over the situation – proving that the system functions, that institutions are working, and that the leadership has the reflex, authority, and courage to resolve the issue immediately. That is why the swift decision was much more than a personal measure, the opinion piece emphasizes. It was an answer to the question: who in Republika Srpska truly governs the processes? The irony of the day: SNSD did what the opposition would never do, even in its wildest dreams. Had a similar situation happened within Draško Stanivuković's circle, it would have ended in spins, denials, consultations, claims of being "taken out of context," and, as usual, accusations directed at SNSD. The opposition received an outcome it did not expect: a fast, clear, uncompromising decision. And that is why they are now dealing with side topics – because the main one has already slipped away. As we enter the final days of the election campaign, the picture becomes ever clearer: Milorad Dodik and SNSD act like an organized, resilient structure ready to absorb a hit, control the situation, and continue without panicking, while the opposition behaves like a group that sees every situation only as an opportunity for a cheap attack, never as an obligation toward the people or the state. What they thought would be a tragedy for SNSD turned into a demonstration of strength. What they believed would be their "blow" ended up exposing themselves. And this is not a story about Đajić. This is a story about why Milorad Dodik remains a political leader who keeps a tempo none of his opponents can match. This is a story about the difference between a serious state and political amateurism. And this is a story about why, two days before the elections, SNSD stands stable, while the opposition once again appears surprised by the outcome of events it failed to understand in the moment they were unfolding.