SARAJEVO — Bosnians headed to the polls Sunday in general elections for the tripartite presidency, national parliament and entity-level bodies, a vote that could shape the country’s stalled European Union accession path and the influence of the United States and Russia in the Balkans, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported.
More than 3.4 million people are eligible to vote across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Brcko District. Voters choose among three presidency seats representing Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs, plus races for 14 governments under one of the world’s most complex electoral systems. New biometric voter identification and ballot scanners are being used this year, though votes remain paper-based.
Ethnic nationalist parties — including the Bosniak SDA, Serb SNSD and Croat HDZ BiH — face multi-ethnic opposition coalitions led by the Social Democratic Party. In Republika Srpska, SNSD, linked to secessionist leader Milorad Dodik, has been ahead in pre-election tracking. Serb Presidency member Željka Cvijanović is seeking a second term; she has maintained close cooperation with Russia during her tenure, Al Jazeera noted.
The EU granted Bosnia candidate status in 2022 and opened accession talks in 2024, but progress has been limited by political blockades. Washington and Brussels have also clashed over the vacant High Representative post after Christian Schmidt resigned in May. Preliminary results traditionally begin late on election night; official results are due no later than November 20.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters
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