Bosnia Election Puts EU Bid and Foreign Influence in Focus

Bosnians voted Sunday in national and regional elections that could shape the country’s European Union membership ambitions and the influence of the United States and Russia in the Balkan nation.

Voters are choosing members of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency and national parliament, along with lawmakers in its two federal entities. Some polling stations temporarily closed because of electronic voting problems, according to Central Election Commission head Jovan Kalaba. Authorities introduced redesigned ballots, biometric voter identification and electronic scanners to reduce election fraud.

Bosnia received EU candidate status in December 2022 and approval to begin accession negotiations in 2024. However, formal talks have yet to start because political leaders have not completed key reforms, including stronger judicial oversight and anti-corruption legislation.

Political divisions remain rooted in the aftermath of the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. The U.S.-brokered Dayton peace agreement divided Bosnia into the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation, connected through a central government and three-member presidency.

Sunday’s election pits major ethnic parties, including the Bosniak SDA, Serb SNSD and Croat HDZ BiH, against multi-ethnic opposition groups led by the Social Democratic Party.

Polling tracker Poliwave showed the SDA leading nationally with 21.4%, ahead of the SDP at 16.7%. In Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik’s SNSD led with 34.2%. Dodik has advocated closer relations with Serbia and Russia while frequently clashing with authorities in Sarajevo.

Turnout reached 11.94% by 11 a.m., compared with roughly 15% at the same point in the 2022 election.

The outcome could also affect geopolitical competition over Bosnia. The EU wants to expand further into the Balkans, while Russia maintains close ties with Republika Srpska. Washington, meanwhile, has promoted a $1.5 billion pipeline designed to bring U.S. liquefied natural gas into Bosnia, although the EU has raised concerns about transparency surrounding the project.

Preliminary election results are expected after polls close at 7 p.m. local time.