Savo Minic says resignation aims to secure the legality of the government after constitutional disputes
The prime minister of Bosnia’s Serb-run Republic of Srpska entity, Savo Minic, announced his resignation on Monday but said he expected to be nominated again for the same post, in a move he said was meant to ensure the government’s legal legitimacy.
Speaking at a press conference, Minic said he had consulted with Republic of Srpska President Sinisa Karan, who he said would re-nominate him to form a government.
Minic, a member of the ruling Alliance of Independent Social Democrats led by Milorad Dodik, said he still enjoyed the backing of a parliamentary majority in the entity’s National Assembly.
He said he had decided to step down to “ensure the legality and legitimacy of the government,” adding that there had been remarks from the international community, without elaborating.
The resignation marks the second time in recent months that Minic has stepped down while indicating he would return to the post.
Minic, previously the Republic of Srpska agriculture minister, was appointed prime minister on Sept. 2 last year.
The move follows a ruling by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Jan. 23, which found the current government unconstitutional because Minic had originally been nominated by Dodik, who at the time presented himself as president of the entity.
Under the constitution of Republika Srpska, only the entity’s president can nominate a prime minister-designate.
Dodik lost the right to hold political office after a ruling related to his refusal to implement decisions of the international High Representative became final, barring him from political functions for six years.
Days before the constitutional court decision, Minic had already resigned once, after which then–vice president Ana Trisic Babic nominated him again for the premiership.
The appointment was later challenged by the Republic of Srpska vice president Camil Durakovic, who asked the entity’s Constitutional Court to review its legality, arguing that the entity’s constitution does not recognise the position of acting president.
On Feb. 25, the Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska suspended proceedings to review the constitutionality of Trisic Babic’s nomination.