The prime minister of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Serb entity Republika Srpska, Radovan Višković, resigned on August 18 after almost seven years in office, in a move coordinated with the region’s leadership as the entity heads into a turbulent political autumn.

Višković announced his resignation five months after Bosnia’s state court issued an arrest warrants for him and other top Republika Srpska officials, accusing them of undermining the country’s constitutional order by pushing through laws that would weaken state institutions and strengthen the entity’s autonomy.

“The prime minister of the Republika Srpska, Radovan Višković, has resigned from his position,” the Republika Srpska government said in a statement published on its website. “This was done in agreement with the president of the republic, Milorad Dodik, and the speaker of the National Assembly, Nenad Stevandić.”

Višković, who has led the entity’s government since December 2018, told a press conference in Banja Luka that stepping down was his own decision.

“This is the day I have been waiting for since I was appointed Prime Minister of the Republika Srpska. This is my contribution to broadening the consensus in Republika Srpska,” Višković said.

The outgoing premier defended his record, citing economic growth and stability during his tenure. “We managed to get through the coronavirus pandemic, perhaps most painlessly in this region, as well as overcome economic crises,” he said, adding that GDP had grown by more than 60% since 2018.

“Wages, pensions, employment have increased. Exports and imports have increased. In the first seven months of this year, exports have grown significantly more than imports,” he said. “I am leaving my successor with an economically and financially stable Srpska.”

Višković, who will take up a new role as director of the entity’s highways authority, also stressed that he would “continue to hold responsible positions in Republika Srpska”.

Dodik presses referendum plan

Republika Srpska's outgoing President Milorad Dodik, who is set to be removed from his post this week following an election commission ruling, thanked Višković for his service.

“We are unique and continue to move forward with our work. This is one of the key moments, and I am grateful to Radovan Višković for the cooperation we have had,” Dodik wrote on social media platform X.

“The government led by Radovan Višković has not left a single question unanswered … Višković has undoubtedly marked a period in which we had no scandals,” Dodik added.

Dodik, who has repeatedly clashed with Bosnia’s state institutions and the international overseer known as the high representative, said a referendum would be held in Republika Srpska at the end of September.

“The Republic of Srpska does not seek conflict, but respect and freedom, which will be achieved through a referendum. That is our message – return us to the Dayton Peace Agreement,” Dodik posted on X.

He added that citizens would be asked whether they accept the authority of Bosnia’s constitutional court and the high representative, both of which Dodik accuses of undermining the 1995 peace accord that ended Bosnia’s war.

“Even after 30 years since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, there are still those who want to undermine Srpska,” Dodik said. “Therefore, we must reject Schmidt, who is the greatest deception, and the [international] Peace Implementation Council.”

Dodik has also pledged to hold a second referendum within 90 days on Republika Srpska’s secession from Bosnia, a demand he has raised repeatedly in recent years but never acted upon.