Polling stations open in Bosnia and Herzegovina for general elections
Version 2: Polling stations have now opened and an additional official outlet has reported the start of voting, with no turnout or result figures released.
In short
Polling stations opened on Sunday in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where 3.4 million citizens are entitled to vote in general elections. Voters are to elect the country's three-member presidency, the national parliamentary assembly, the parliaments of Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation, and local bodies. Ten candidates are running for the presidency, and 75 parties and 29 coalitions are contesting parliamentary seats, according to Interfax and TASS.
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Polling stations opened on Sunday in Bosnia and Herzegovina for general elections, RIA Novosti reported, after TASS and Interfax said the vote was due. Interfax reported that 3.4 million citizens with the right to vote are to elect three members of the presidency, the country's main governing body, along with deputies of the national parliamentary assembly, the parliaments of the two state-forming entities — Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation — and local bodies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Ten candidates are competing for the three presidency seats, Interfax reported: four Bosniaks, three Serbs and three Croats. Voters in the Muslim-Croat Federation vote for the Bosniak and Croat members, while residents of Republika Srpska choose the Serb representative, according to the same report. Presidential elections are also being held in both entities, with 12 candidates in Republika Srpska and four in the Muslim-Croat Federation. [ 2 ]
In the parliamentary elections, Interfax reported that representatives of 75 political parties and 29 coalitions are taking part. TASS said 75 political parties, 29 coalitions and four independent candidates are competing for seats in bodies of government at various levels; the two accounts do not fully match. [ 1 , 2 ]
Interfax described Bosnia and Herzegovina as a federal state made up of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as the Muslim-Croat Federation, and Republika Srpska. The country is led by a presidency of three representatives of its main religious and ethnic groups — Bosniak Muslims, Catholic Croats and Orthodox Serbs — while competences in foreign policy and defence are exercised at the federal level, the report said. [ 2 ]
The documents give no turnout figures and no indication of when results are expected. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The vote fills the three-member presidency and the parliaments of the country and its two entities, the bodies that share federal competences including foreign policy and defence. The documents give no turnout or result figures, so the outcome remains open; coverage so far is limited to the procedural details of the vote.
Key facts
- General elections are being held in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with polling stations opening on Sunday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- 3.4 million citizens of the country have the right to vote. [ 2 ]
- Voters are to elect three members of the presidency, the country's main governing body, as well as deputies of the national parliamentary assembly, the parliaments of Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation, and local bodies. [ 2 ]
- Ten candidates are running for the presidency: four Bosniaks, three Serbs and three Croats. [ 2 ]
- Voters in the Muslim-Croat Federation choose the Bosniak and Croat presidency members, while residents of Republika Srpska choose the Serb representative. [ 2 ]
- Presidential elections are also being held in the two entities, with 12 candidates in Republika Srpska and four in the Muslim-Croat Federation. [ 2 ]
- 75 political parties and 29 coalitions are taking part. [ 1 , 2 ]
- TASS additionally reported that four independent candidates are competing for seats in bodies of government at various levels. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The number of independent candidates and lists standing in the elections. TASS says 75 parties, 29 coalitions and four independent candidates are competing for seats in bodies of government at various levels, while Interfax lists 75 parties and 29 coalitions taking part in the parliamentary elections; the two accounts do not fully match.
- Turnout, results and when results are expected. None of the documents reports turnout or outcome figures; the reports describe the contest, the offices being filled and the opening of polling stations.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports that general elections will be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 75 political parties, 29 coalitions and four independent candidates contesting seats. [ 1 ]
- Interfax reports that general elections start on Sunday, listing the offices being filled, the 3.4 million eligible voters and the candidate counts in the presidency and entity presidential races. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that polling stations have opened in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [ 3 ]