KOVAČEVIČ: KARAN HOLDS LEAD, PEOPLE'S WILL HAS BEEN DEFENDED

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 23 /SRNA/ – SNSD spokesperson Radovan Kovačević has stated that the party's presidential candidate for Republika Srpska Siniša Karan is ahead by 8,500 votes compared to his rival from the SDS Branko Blanuša, after more than 90 percent of polling stations have been processed.

"Even at this moment, I can say we have secured a victory, and that this is a victory for Republika Srpska," Kovačević told a press conference at the SNSD Election Headquarters in Banja Luka. He stressed that this victory is also a victory over Christian Schmidt and all those who supported the efforts to undermine the electoral will of Republika Srpska. Kovačević stated that in Doboj the current margin in Karan's favour is 7,840 votes, in Zvornik 6,400, and in Laktaši around 5,000 votes. "Republika Srpska has chosen its president. They wanted to show that Srpska is not worthy of choosing its own representatives. That is what Schmidt and Sarajevo wanted," Kovačević said, emphasizing that the people’s will has been defended. He called on the opposition to accept reality and concede defeat. "We are not satisfied with this result because the balance of power is significantly greater. Our electorate was reluctant to go to the polls because of Schmidt's decisions," Kovačević noted. He announced that the SNSD President Milorad Dodik will address the public at 10:00 p.m. and declare the winner of the election.