Bosnia-Herzegovina Holds General Election Amid Ethnic Party Standoffs and EU Hopes

Polling began on Sunday with roughly 3.4 million eligible voters casting ballots in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s general election, which determines the three-member presidency, the federal legislature and the leaders of the two semi-autonomous entities. Ethnic parties - the Bosniak SDA, Serb SNSD and Croat HDZ BiH - are pitted against multi-ethnic opposition blocs headed by the Social Democratic Party. In Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, barred from holding office for six years, remains a key figure, backing Savo Minic for the entity’s presidency after returning from a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In the Federation, Bosniak parties push for a stronger central state while Croat parties back the local branch of Croatia’s HDZ. Incumbent Bosniak presidency member Denis Becirovic pledged a renewed drive toward EU and NATO integration, though accession talks hinge on reforms such as judicial oversight and anti-corruption measures. The election unfolds amid economic slowdown, sluggish EU progress and entrenched ethnic-based political deadlock.