Macron reminds Vučić of Bosnia, Dodik thanks Belgrade and warns of revenge after court sentence
Express newspaper
04/08/2025 7:49
French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephone conversation with Aleksandar Vučić today, where he stressed that Serbia’s European future is conditioned by internal reforms and dialogue with Kosovo. Macron also included the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina in his post, emphasizing the importance of its unity and sovereignty amid increased tensions following the court ruling against Milorad Dodik.
“Serbia’s destiny is European, but this destiny depends on the path of reforms and the spirit of dialogue. France values Bosnia’s stability and respect for the rule of law,” Macron declared after his conversation with Vučić.
France’s stance comes at a delicate moment for the region. Just two days ago, the Court of Appeals of Bosnia and Herzegovina upheld a one-year prison sentence for the president of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, and a ban on him from holding public office for almost six years. Dodik is accused of failing to comply with the decisions of the international High Representative, one of the most sensitive issues in Bosnia.
Following the decision, Dodik reacted today on the “X” platform, thanking Vučić and the Serbian National Security Council for their support.
In today’s post on “X”, in addition to thanking Vučić and Serbia, Dodik also issued a threatening message towards Bosnian state institutions. He said that “this political decision will have consequences”, implying that he will continue to take measures against the central authorities in Sarajevo and intensify efforts to strengthen the autonomy of Republika Srpska.
This message has been seen by analysts as a warning of political revenge and a signal that Dodik has no intention of accepting the court’s decision. His rhetoric reinforces fears of an escalation of tensions not only in Bosnia but also throughout the region, especially at a time when Serbia is under EU pressure to engage in dialogue with Kosovo and to maintain stability in the Balkans.
Why was Milorad Dodik convicted?
Milorad Dodik was found guilty by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina of failing to comply with the decisions of the international High Representative, an institution overseeing the implementation of the 1995 Dayton Agreement.
Specifically, Dodik refused to implement the High Representative’s decisions banning the publication of laws passed by the Republika Srpska Assembly that challenged the authority of Bosnian state institutions. The laws adopted by Dodik provided for the non-implementation of decisions of the Bosnian Constitutional Court and the limitation of the powers of the international representative – an action seen as a step towards the secession of the Serbian entity from Bosnia.
For this reason, the court sentenced Dodik to a year in prison and banned him from holding public office for almost six years, a decision confirmed on August 1 by the appeals court. This is one of the most significant sentences against a senior political leader in Bosnia since the war of the 90s and is seen as a test of the rule of law in the country.