Bosnia votes as wartime divides drive campaigns

Sarajevo, Bosnia held its general elections on Sunday amidst ongoing political strife and stagnant reforms, fueled by ethnic divisions that echo those of its 1990s war. The complex voting system encompasses officials at various governmental levels, aimed at maintaining unity since the 1995 peace deal. The most significant race is for the tripartite presidency, contested by Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats.

Front-runners advocate for either a united Bosnia or greater autonomy for the Serb-run entity, while Croats seek enhanced political representation. However, many voters are frustrated by the parties' repeated use of war-era rhetoric and division during campaigns. Adi Selman from the Karton Revolucija protest group expressed skepticism about the impact of these elections, stating that the same limited choices have been offered for decades, focusing on past grievances.

The Dayton Agreement, brokered by the US to end the 1992-1995 conflict, established two semi-autonomous entities: Republika Srpska (RS), governed by Serbs, and a Muslim-Croat federation, linked by a weak central government. Former Republika Srpska president Milorad Dodik, despite not being on the ballot following a conviction, remains a powerful figure in the RS.

His divisive rhetoric and separatist threats have impeded political cooperation. Dodik's SNSD party held their final rally in Banja Luka, the capital of the RS, rejecting the notion that their country is "dead" or "impossible." However, researcher Adnan Cerimagic from the European Stability Initiative (ESI) posited that opposition candidate Branko Blanusa might still defeat Dodik-backed Savo Minic in the RS presidential race.

Technical changes like biometric identification and manual ballot scanning at polling stations could influence the outcome. In the Muslim-Croat federation, Bosniak parties advocate for a stronger central state, aiming for closer ties with the EU and NATO, while Croat nationalist parties demand more influence over the Croat presidency member.

Environmental activist Sara Tusevljak lamented the political stagnation, noting that it has deterred young people from staying in Bosnia. Voting commenced at 7 AM local time and concluded 12 hours later.