From 2000 to 2002, he also served as the 4th president of Republika Srpska and was Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on two occasions as well.

He resigned from the Presidency on 2 April 2003 amid allegations of his involvement in organising illegal military trading with Iraq.

[3] As president of the SDS, the major opposition party in Republika Srpska, Šarović has been a fierce opponent and critic of Bosnian Serb leader and current Bosnian Presidency member Milorad Dodik, having clashes with him on numerous occasions.

[4] On 23 June 2022, Šarović announced his candidacy in the Bosnian general election, running again for Bosnia and Herzegovina's three-person Presidency member, representing the Serbs.

[6] Following his defeat and a poor showing of the SDS in the election as well, Šarović announced his resignation as president of the party in November 2022.