Dodik, Minic and Cvijanovic Congratulate Student List

After Serbia’s parliamentary elections, held on October 25, the Student List was congratulated from Republika Srpska by Milorad Dodik, president of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), by Savo Minic, and by Zeljka Cvijanovic, the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dodik and Cvijanovic did so in posts on X. Branko Blanusa, president of the opposition Serb Democratic Party (SDS), also sent a message.

The congratulations come while results are still provisional. The Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) and the Ipsos agency said, based on 56 percent of the sample processed, that the Student List has 52 percent of the vote, which would mean 139 of 250 seats in the Serbian National Assembly. The “Aleksandar Vucic, United Serbia” list is second in the same sample with 39.3 percent, or 104 seats. These are estimates by the two organizations, not final results.

What did Dodik tell Belgrade and Vucic?

Dodik wrote in his post that “the citizens of Serbia and all political actors have once again demonstrated the democratic character of one of the oldest state-building peoples in Europe.” He thanked Aleksandar Vucic in particular for the cooperation and understanding that, as he put it, Vucic showed toward Republika Srpska for years. The rest of the post reads:

That was not just political support: it was an understanding of the same people, the same fate and the same interest. Republika Srpska and Serbia are moving forward together. As close as possible and on the best of terms. Cooperating and supporting each other on all issues, regional and international, in every forum and every institution. Because Serbs on both sides of the Drina are one people and will remain so. The voice of the people is the voice of God. The citizens of Republika Srpska and Serbia have had their say. Let us go forward, together.

What did Minic and Cvijanovic say?

Minic wrote: “I congratulate the people of Serbia on democratic elections and the Student List on its victory. I wish them success in taking responsibility for Serbia’s future.” He added: “A strong and stable Serbia is a pillar of support for Republika Srpska and an important factor of peace and progress for the entire region.” His office is described differently across sources: Top portal calls him prime minister of Republika Srpska, while Ekspres calls him the president-elect of that entity.

Cvijanovic congratulated the Student List on its victory and expressed the wish that Serbia continue on the path of development and prosperity. She also congratulated other political actors and the citizens of Serbia on their democratic capacity, and in her post she said: “Republika Srpska remains gazing toward Serbia, with the wish that our relations, as well as cooperation, remain at the highest possible level in the future.”

What did the opposition leader in Republika Srpska say?

Blanusa, on behalf of the SDS but also personally, congratulated “the students and citizens of Serbia on the election result.” He said:

This result shows that faith in change, perseverance and the desire for a fairer society are strong messages that deserve respect.

According to an SDS statement, Blanusa added that he wishes Serbia stability, progress and a future in which young people will have more reasons to stay, create and believe in their country.

Ekspres describes Dodik as the leader of the ruling coalition in Republika Srpska and Blanusa as the head of the opposition. The congratulations came from both sides of the political scene in the entity.