Republika Srpska Referendum on Dodik's Mandate Fails to Materialize on October 25

Planned Referendum Fails to Take Place

A planned referendum in Republika Srpska (RS), one of the two entities comprising Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), did not occur on October 25, 2025, despite earlier decisions by the entity's National Assembly to hold the vote. The referendum was intended to gauge public support for challenging rulings against former RS President Milorad Dodik, whose mandate was revoked following a court verdict.

Background to the Proposed Vote

The referendum's central question was whether citizens accepted the decisions of the High Representative in BiH, Christian Schmidt, the verdict of the Court of BiH against Milorad Dodik, and the decision by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of BiH to strip him of his mandate. The proposed question specifically asked: 'Do you accept the decisions of the unelected foreigner Christian Schmidt and the unconstitutional judgments of the BiH Court pronounced against the President of Republika Srpska, as well as the decision of the CEC to revoke the mandate of the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik?'

The impetus for the referendum stemmed from a Court of BiH ruling that sentenced Milorad Dodik to one year in prison and imposed a six-year ban from holding public office. This verdict was a consequence of his non-compliance with the High Representative's decisions. Subsequently, the CEC implemented this ban, leading to the revocation of Dodik's mandate as RS President.

Reasons for Non-Occurrence and Political Fallout

The National Assembly of Republika Srpska had voted on August 22/23, 2025, to schedule the referendum for October 25. However, the vote ultimately did not proceed as planned.

Nebojša Vukanović, a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, criticized the failure to hold the referendum, describing it as a 'fraud and manipulation of the people' and a 'betrayal and capitulation' by Dodik. Vukanović also highlighted procedural issues, noting that the Speaker of the Assembly, Nenad Stevandić, was reportedly awaiting a decision from the Constitutional Court of the RS, which had not been published in the Official Gazette. He further mentioned that the director of the Official Gazette had allegedly refused to comply with RS authorities.

Earlier, on September 30, 2025, Srđan Mazalica, Head of the SNSD Caucus in the Republika Srpska National Assembly, had suggested that the referendum might be postponed due to 'objective circumstances, such as a Bosniak veto and deliberation by the Constitutional Court.' He indicated that the vote could potentially be rescheduled for November 23, 2025, to coincide with early presidential elections for the President of Republika Srpska, aiming for cost efficiency.

Shift Towards Early Elections

With the referendum failing to take place on the designated date, Milorad Dodik and the National Assembly have reportedly accepted that early presidential elections will now be held on November 23, 2025. This development marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, following a period of heightened tensions surrounding the legitimacy of state institutions and the authority of the international High Representative.