Bosnia sets early election in Serb region as crisis deepens

FILE PHOTO: Milorad Dodik, President of Bosnia's Serb Republic, addresses supporters reacting to a court decision on charges that he defied rulings by an international peace envoy, in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, February 25, 2025. REUTERS/Amel Emric/File Photo/File Photo

SARAJEVO (Reuters) -Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic will hold an early election on November 23, the Balkan country's election commission announced on Thursday, despite opposition from the region's separatist leader and parliament.

The election commission called the election for a new president of the Serb Republic to try to resolve a standoff in which it has stripped pro-Russian Serb nationalist Milorad Dodik of the presidency but he has refused to step aside.