Željka Cvijanović

Željka Cvijanović
Name	Željka Cvijanović
Office	Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Term start	16 November 2022
Predecessor	Milorad Dodik
Office1	President of Republika Srpska
Term start1	19 November 2018
Term end1	15 November 2022
Predecessor1	Milorad Dodik
Successor1	Milorad Dodik
Office2	Prime Minister of Republika Srpska
Term start2	12 March 2013
Term end2	19 November 2018
Predecessor2	Aleksandar Džombić
Successor2	Radovan Višković
Birth date	1967
Birth place	Teslić, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
Party	Alliance of Independent Social Democrats
Alma mater	University of Banja Luka

Željka Cvijanović is a Bosnian Serb politician serving as the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2022. She previously served as the President of Republika Srpska from 2018 to 2022 and as the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska from 2013 to 2018, becoming the first woman to hold both offices. A prominent member of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), her career is closely associated with the party's leader, Milorad Dodik.

Early life and education

Željka Cvijanović was born in 1967 in Teslić, then part of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the SFR Yugoslavia. She completed her secondary education in her hometown before moving to Banja Luka for higher studies. She graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Banja Luka, specializing in English language and literature. She later earned a master's degree in European integration from the same university, focusing her academic work on the political and economic structures of the European Union.

Political career

Cvijanović began her professional career as a professor of English before transitioning into public administration. She entered politics through roles in the Government of Republika Srpska, initially serving as an advisor in the Ministry of Economic Relations and Regional Cooperation. Her rise within the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats was steady, holding positions such as Assistant Minister and later Minister in the Republic Administration for International Cooperation. In 2010, she was appointed as the Minister of Economic Relations and Regional Cooperation in the government of Prime Minister Aleksandar Džombić.

Presidency of Republika Srpska

Following the 2013 election, Cvijanović was nominated by Milorad Dodik and confirmed by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska as the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska. Her tenure focused on economic development and strengthening ties with traditional allies like Serbia and Russia. In 2018, she was elected as the President of Republika Srpska, succeeding Dodik, who had reached his term limit. Her presidency was marked by continued advocacy for the entity's autonomy within Bosnia and Herzegovina, frequent political disputes with the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and challenges related to Dayton Agreement implementation.

Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the 2022 general election, Cvijanović was elected as the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Dodik returning to the presidency of the entity. She assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 2024. Her term on the state-level presidency has been characterized by persistent tensions over constitutional reform, secessionist rhetoric from Republika Srpska leadership, and navigating Bosnia's complex path toward EU integration.

Political positions and views

Cvijanović is a staunch defender of the entity system and the constitutional prerogatives of Republika Srpska as established by the Dayton Agreement. She consistently supports policies that strengthen entity-level authority, often opposing centralization efforts from Sarajevo and decisions by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her political platform aligns with the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats's focus on maintaining strong political and economic relations with Serbia and fostering partnerships with other non-NATO countries like Russia and China.

Personal life

Željka Cvijanović is married and has two children. She is fluent in English and Russian. Outside of politics, she has expressed interest in literature and history. She maintains a relatively low public profile regarding her private affairs, with media attention primarily focused on her official duties and political engagements within the complex framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Category:1967 births Category:Presidents of Republika Srpska Category:Prime Ministers of Republika Srpska Category:Members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Category:Alliance of Independent Social Democrats politicians Category:University of Banja Luka alumni Category:Living people