STEVANDIĆ: ASSEMBLY MAKES DECISIONS AND MANAGES PROCESSES, WE ARE PROTECTING SRPSKA INSTITUTIONS

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 18 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić stated at a special session that the Constitution did not foresee the situation Republika Srpska is currently facing, therefore it is necessary to adopt decisions that will ensure peace, stability, and the strengthening of institutions.

"This is not a standard situation. These are not regular laws; even then we had cases where laws were withdrawn or amended. This is part of a broader process being conducted by the National Assembly," Stevandić said.

He emphasized the need to find a way out of the current situation and said the National Assembly must respond to the challenges.

"We saw celebrations earlier in the Federation of BiH. They wanted to imprison us and prevent us from being in a position to make decisions. We are the ones making decisions here, in the National Assembly. We may even have to make more radical decisions in the period ahead. That is what protects us," Stevandić stated.

Stevandić has added that this is about defending institutions, noting that the president has not resigned according to the Constitution, thus he keeps sending official acts to the president for signing.

"I will stop doing that only when the National Assembly decides so," Stevandić said.

He adds that it is about the current constitutional crisis caused by Christian Schmidt, and that no one has fallen for his provocations.

"Milorad Dodik’s behaviour is rational," Stevandić stressed.

According to him, it has been proven that Republika Srpska independently and effectively manages all key processes.

"The opposition should not act as advisors to Christian Schmidt or the Constitutional Court, evaluating what is legal and what is not," Stevandić said.

He noted that all members of the ruling coalition are working to protect property and constitutional-legal order, and that no one is working to reduce its powers.

"The National Assembly is what keeps us united. It remains the body of sovereignty and survival of Republika Srpska. It is our Assembly. It will always be ours, as will our decisions. The Assembly’s decisions have saved both presidents and governments," Stevandić concluded.