Nikola Poplašen

Nikola Poplašen (; born 15 December 1951) is a former Bosnian Serb politician. He was the president of Republika Srpska from late 1998 to 1999. He was removed by the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, on 5 March 1999. The removal was enforced on 2 September 1999.

Following his removal from the presidency, he also worked as a member of the Senate of Republika Srpska. He testified as a defense witness for Radovan Karadžić in his trial.

Bosnian War Following the outbreak of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poplašen left Sarajevo with his family to work for the newly-formed government of Republika Srpska in Pale. There he served as a member of the Advisory of Serb Democratic Party and also personally advised Radovan Karadžić. However, he left SDS in 1992 and founded the Serbian Radical Party of Republika Srpska. High Representative Carlos Westendorp stated that he would recognize Poplašen's victory on the condition that he does not name Momčilo Krajišnik as prime minister. On 5 March 1999, Westendorp dismissed Poplašen after he refused to give Milorad Dodik a new mandate as prime minister.

Later career Poplašen was appointed as a member of the board for the Agency for Development of Higher Education of Bosnia and Herzegovina in November 2015. His appointment was controversial given his background in the war and also due to the unexpected votes he received from some members of the Party of Democratic Action and the Democratic Front.