RS readies referendum law

The Republic of Srpska government confirmed its draft referendum and civil initiative law. It also called for the Serb entity’s parliament in Banja Luka to meet in order to adopt the law. RS readies referendum law “The proposed law regulates on the manner of calling a referendum, which bodies are responsible for the job, the way voting will be held and everything else, but it does not contain what could be contentious – the referendum question, or what can or cannot be voted on,” RS Administration and Local Self-Administration Minister Zoran Lipovac said. He said that the referendum question will be defined by special decisions of the RS parliament, which is the sole institution that can call for that type of voting according to the entity’s Constitution. The law states that the referendum would be organized and monitored by a special commission, rather than the state or municipal election commissions. Lipovac said that he does not expect a reaction from the Office of the High Representative (OHR) regarding the referendum law, adding that it is the democratic right of all countries. He also believes that the RS Council of Peoples will not veto the draft because it is a legal act that is of a “technical nature”. Lipovac said that if there were objections, they would be harmonized between the council and parliament, so that the RS Constitutional Court would not have to rule on the issue.

RS readies referendum law

“The proposed law regulates on the manner of calling a referendum, which bodies are responsible for the job, the way voting will be held and everything else, but it does not contain what could be contentious – the referendum question, or what can or cannot be voted on,” RS Administration and Local Self-Administration Minister Zoran Lipovac said.

He said that the referendum question will be defined by special decisions of the RS parliament, which is the sole institution that can call for that type of voting according to the entity’s Constitution.

The law states that the referendum would be organized and monitored by a special commission, rather than the state or municipal election commissions.

Lipovac said that he does not expect a reaction from the Office of the High Representative (OHR) regarding the referendum law, adding that it is the democratic right of all countries.

He also believes that the RS Council of Peoples will not veto the draft because it is a legal act that is of a “technical nature”.

Lipovac said that if there were objections, they would be harmonized between the council and parliament, so that the RS Constitutional Court would not have to rule on the issue.