Dodik Pushes Constitutional Changes After Mar-a-Lago Visit
Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik says his SNSD party will seek to amend the entity's constitution, a move he links to recent US political shifts.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Political Parties
Milorad Dodik, leader of the SNSD party, said his party would seek constitutional changes in Republika Srpska after attending a MAGA gathering at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. He spoke to public broadcaster RTRS in Banja Luka.
Why it matters
Dodik said his SNSD party could assemble the two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to amend the entity's constitution, and that blocking decisions he considers harmful to Republika Srpska is his state-level priority. He expects the Trump administration's policy toward Bosnia and Herzegovina to remain unchanged.
Dodik said his SNSD party could assemble a two-thirds parliamentary majority in Republika Srpska's parliament to amend the entity's constitution, though he did not specify which amendments are planned. Dodik did not identify the prominent American politicians he met at the Mar-a-Lago gathering, and no vote timeline was given.
The players
Milorad Dodik
Dodik is the leader of the SNSD party and a longtime political figure in Bosnia and Herzegovina who has repeatedly pushed for greater autonomy for Republika Srpska.
Office of the High Representative (OHR)
The OHR is the international body that oversees civilian implementation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's peace agreement.
The details
Dodik spoke to RTRS in Banja Luka after attending a gathering at Mar-a-Lago, where participants discussed strategies for the 2028 presidential election. He said he expects the Trump administration's policy toward Bosnia and Herzegovina to remain unchanged and that the Office of the High Representative's role could weaken during the remaining two years of Trump's presidency.
Timeline
October 2026: The Student List defeated the movement of former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in a parliamentary election, a result Dodik had openly backed Vucic against.
November 2026: US congressional elections returned Democratic majorities in both chambers, and Dodik said Democratic lawmakers could launch new initiatives.
November 8, 2026: Dodik's interview was published following the Mar-a-Lago gathering.
Next week: Formation of new authorities in Republika Srpska's parliament begins.
Political Context
The push to amend Republika Srpska's constitution sits within the framework of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which created the entity's current powers and the OHR's oversight role. Dodik's expectation that the OHR will weaken reflects a long-running dispute over how much authority Republika Srpska should hold relative to the central state.
Any constitutional amendment would change the powers Republika Srpska holds within Bosnia and Herzegovina, affecting how laws and institutions operate across the entity. The outcome depends on whether the SNSD can assemble the two-thirds parliamentary majority Dodik described.
The takeaway
Dodik's remarks show how shifts in US politics are being read as openings for regional constitutional change in Bosnia. Watching whether the SNSD secures a two-thirds majority will show how far those plans can move.
What happens next
Formation of new authorities in Republika Srpska's parliament begins next week, the first concrete step toward any constitutional amendment.
Further reading
Explore more Political Parties coverage to see how party leaders shape policy in the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by N1 info.
