SRPSKA INDEPENDENTLY REGULATING APPOINTMENT OF ITS GOVERNMENT CONFIRMED

BANJA LUKA, MARCH 27 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska Minister of Justice Goran Selak says the incomplete Constitutional Court of BiH’s decision clearly confirmed the position of the line ministry that the issue of Republika Srpska Government appointment falls exclusively under the Srpska Constitution and its constitutional-legal order.

“From the very first day we have been pointing out that this is a legal issue that falls entirely within the competence of Republika Srpska. Today’s decision of the Constitutional Court of BiH has proven that our interpretation was correct, well-founded and based on the Constitution,” Selak emphasized. He stressed that this decision represents an important confirmation that the Republika Srpska competences must be respected and that its institutions cannot be subject to political pressure. “The Constitutional Court of BiH clearly stated that this is a matter regulated by the Republika Srpska Constitution, not by the Constitution of BiH, and that it does not have jurisdiction over this area. This confirms that the internal issues of Republika Srpska cannot be brought where there is no constitutional basis for it,” Selak said. He emphasized that Republika Srpska defends its position through law, institutions and consistent respect for the Constitution. “Our obligation is to preserve the constitutional position of Republika Srpska, protect its institutions and ensure legal certainty for all citizens. Only in this way can we preserve the stability and strength of Republika Srpska,” Selak stressed. He said that Republika Srpska has its own institutions, its own Constitution and the full right to make decisions independently within its competences, which is the right that must be respected. The incomplete Constitutional Court of BiH rejected as inadmissible the request of 11 members of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly to determine the existence of a dispute between BiH and Republika Srpska regarding the adoption of decisions electing the speaker and members of the Srpska Government, due to lack of decision-making competences. The explanation stated that the adoption of the contested decisions did not cause a dispute because it concerns the correctness of the procedure for electing the speaker and members of the Republika Srpska Government, which is regulated by the Constitution of Srpska, not the Constitution of BiH, for which the Republika Srpska Constitutional Court is competent.