Republika Srpska debates OHR legitimacy as Serbia ramps up pre‑election rally

The Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska released a document disputing the authority of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and questioning the legality of decisions made by former High Representative Christian Schmidt. The National Assembly of Republika Srpska (NSRS) scheduled a special session to discuss the court’s notice, with ruling party leaders framing the issue as a defence of entity autonomy, while opposition members warned it is a manoeuvre to mobilise voters ahead of upcoming elections.

In parallel, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced a large rally in Belgrade for 27 June, promising to present a new electoral programme and to install “voting boxes” for citizens to select policy priorities. Analysts described the rally as a cheap political showcase aimed at diverting attention from corruption scandals and to gauge the ruling party’s strength before the vote.

Local Serb politician Mladen Ilić also criticised an opposition‑organised billboard and a numeric counter placed in Banja Luka’s Trg Krajine, calling it a stunt meant to revive past political narratives rather than address infrastructure needs.