Preliminary results from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s general election show little change in the political balance, with parties aligned with the country’s three main ethnic communities retaining leading positions. Sunday’s vote was the 15th since the end of the war and the signing of the Dayton peace agreement in 1995. It took place amid a deep political crisis that has renewed questions about the country’s unity.
The Party of Democratic Action (SDA), representing Bosniaks, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), representing Bosnian Serbs, and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) maintained their influence. Two of the three seats on the country’s collective Presidency are expected to go to HDZ’s Darijana Filipović and SNSD’s Željka Cvijanović, according to preliminary results.
The main exception was the defeat of SDA leader Bakir Izetbegović in the race for a Presidency seat. Bosniaks will again be represented by incumbent Denis Bećirović, who was backed by 14 smaller parties. The SDA, however, increased its representation in parliament.
The dominance of nationally oriented parties was especially evident in Republika Srpska, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s two constituent entities. Cvijanović, an ally of longtime Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, retained the Serb seat on the Presidency. SNSD candidate Savo Minić won the Republika Srpska presidency by a wide margin. The results remain preliminary.