Bosnia votes in general election with wartime divisions still dominating

Bosnia is set to hold general elections on Sunday, with the campaign dominated by parties that closely align with the ethnic divisions of the country's 1990s war. The complex system of government, established since the 1995 peace deal, will see the election of officials across multiple tiers. The key race is for the tripartite presidency, which is divided between Bosniak, Serb, and Croat ethnic groups.

While the Dayton agreement ended the 1992-1995 conflict, it has entrenched divisions that often paralyze decision-making. Some voters, like activist Adi Selman, feel that the elections will not bring about significant change, as the major parties continue to focus on war-era rhetoric and divisions. Despite Milorad Dodik's dominance in the Serb entity, researcher Adnan Cerimagic suggests that opposition candidate Branko Blanusa could still win the RS presidency.

In the Muslim-Croat federation, incumbent Bosniak presidency member Denis Becirovic is pushing for a stronger central state, while Croat nationalist parties are demanding greater political representation. The political deadlock is a key reason why many young Bosnians choose to leave the country.

Brief written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.