Bosnia and Herzegovina held general elections on Sunday, with approximately 3.4 million voters casting ballots for the three members of the multi-ethnic presidency, national Parliament lawmakers, and heads of institutions for the country's two entities. These parliamentary, presidential, and local elections operate within a complex system that has held the partitioned country together since the 1995 peace deal.
Although banned from public office and not appearing on the ballot, pro-Russia Bosnian Serb nationalist Milorad Dodik dominated the campaign. Dodik used separatist rhetoric that inflamed divisions and sparked fears of renewed instability, while impacting the influence Russia seeks over the nation. Zeljka Cvijanovic, a Serb nationalist candidate backed by Dodik, took the lead for the Serb seat of the three-member presidency.
The election was shaped by ethnic tensions originating from the brutal 1992-95 war, alongside economic pressures, corruption, and a youth exodus. While many parties identify closely with the ethnic divisions of the 1990s, citizens also focused on everyday problems and the prospect of joining the European Union. Following the closure of the polls, Dodik has declared victory for his party.