Bosnia Votes Amid Ethnic Tensions and Dodik Influence

Polls opened Sunday across Bosnia and Herzegovina for a general election to choose the three members of the multi-ethnic presidency, national parliament deputies, and entity-level leaders. Approximately 3.4 million citizens are eligible to vote in a system established by the 1995 Dayton peace agreement that divides power among Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats.

The campaign has been dominated by Milorad Dodik, the pro-Russian leader of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), despite a court ban preventing him from holding office for six years. Dodik was convicted in 2025 of defying the international High Representative overseeing the peace accord, yet he directed his party's campaign from Banja Luka.

“Bosnia-Herzegovina is dead, it is an impossible country, it doesn't make any sense.”

At a final rally attended by the Russian ambassador, Dodik declared that "Bosnia-Herzegovina is dead" and called it an "impossible country." Analyst Dragan Bursac noted Dodik remains "in command" and omnipresent in media across the country, suggesting sanctions have failed to sideline him.

Voting delays were reported at multiple polling stations due to technical issues with new digital voting machines introduced to prevent tampering. Associated Press journalists observed several locations where voting could not start on time.

Voters cite the rising cost of living as a primary concern. While the average monthly salary rose from 570 to 885 euros since 2022, the cost of living has increased by over 50 percent in the same period, according to union data. One young activist in East Sarajevo said the situation "has never been worse" and noted many young people have left the country.

The election serves as a test for the stability of one of Europe's poorest and most institutionally fragmented nations. Ethnic divisions remain deep, with Bosniaks favoring a stronger central state, Serbs seeking autonomy, and Croats demanding better representation.