A group of lawmakers in Bosnia’s national parliament said on Tuesday they had filed a motion with the Constitutional Court to review the legality of the formation of the new government in the country’s Serb entity, Republika Srpska (RS).
The request, signed by 11 members of the House of Representatives, contests the Sept. 2 decisions of the RS National Assembly to elect a new prime minister, Savo Minić, and his cabinet. Lawmakers argued that the nomination was invalid because former RS president Milorad Dodik, whose mandate had expired in June, submitted the proposal on Aug. 23.
“It is absurd that Dodik, in August, signed a request that only the president of Republika Srpska can sign,” Jasmin Imamović of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) told FENA news agency. “Someone without authority made the proposal, which means the government and prime minister were not lawfully appointed.”
Mia Karamehić-Abazović of the People and Justice party (NiP) said the appeal seeks an urgent measure from the court to suspend the decisions, arguing they violate Bosnia’s constitutional principles and legal order.
The lawmakers cited Articles I/2 and III/3(b) of Bosnia’s constitution, which require entities and their institutions to comply fully with state-level law and uphold democratic principles. They warned the RS assembly’s actions could undermine the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Constitutional Court has yet to announce whether it will consider the request on an urgent basis.