Following the election results, Karan has expressed his intent to continue Dodik’s policies with ‘ever greater force,’ declaring that the ‘Serb people have won.’ This sentiment is echoed by Dodik, who has vowed to remain active in the political sphere, suggesting that Karan’s victory will be ‘my victory too.’
Karan’s victory is a direct consequence of the political upheaval that unfolded after Dodik’s removal from office in February. The Serbian leader was found guilty by Bosnia’s state court for failing to implement the decisions of the international high representative, Christian Schmidt, who oversees the peace-monitoring regime under the Dayton Peace Agreement. Schmidt, a German national, invoked his powers to annul legislation passed by Republika Srpska’s authorities in 2023, which sought to strip state-level courts and police of jurisdiction in the entity, declaring the envoy’s decrees non-binding. Dodik himself has dismissed Schmidt as a ‘tourist’ and refused to recognize his authority.
Karan, who is the candidate of Dodik’s Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) and the entity’s minister for scientific and technological development, has pledged to continue Dodik’s policies with increased strength. Both Karan and Dodik have consistently advocated for closer ties with Russia, with Karan explicitly stating that Moscow is ‘one of the greatest allies and friends of Srpska.’ Dodik has similarly echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the West is attempting to ‘sacrifice Ukraine’ in a bid to provoke a conflict with Russia.