Polls close in Bosnia-Herzegovina's divisive election

Polls closed in Bosnia and Herzegovina's general election on Sunday evening, with around 3.4 million eligible voters participating. Presidential candidates Zeljka Cvijanovic, Denis Becirovic, and Darijana Filipovic led their respective ethnic groups. Cvijanovic, a Serb nationalist, received backing from former Republika Srpska secessionist leader Milorad Dodik, who faces a six-year ban from public office due to defying the international peace process envoy.

Voters also selected lawmakers for the federal parliament and leaders of the Muslim-Croat Federation and Serb-run Republika Srpska. The election follows economic slowdown, sluggish EU membership progress, and political gridlock in the Balkan country. Adversary ethnic parties will compete against multi-ethnic opposition coalitions.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's election system, set up during the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords, divides responsibilities between a multiethnic central government, two semi-autonomous entities, and the neutral Brcko district. The country is 50% Muslim Bosniaks, 31% Orthodox Serb, and 15% Catholic Croat. Dodik, the key figure in Republika Srpska, is barred from public office and seeks close ties with Serbia and Russia.

In the Muslim-Croat Federation, Bosniak parties advocate for a stronger central state, while incumbent Bosniak presidency member Denis Becirovic pledges a renewed path to EU and NATO membership.