Bosnians went to the polls Sunday to vote in general Next election a campaign A season marked by threats of Secession, political infighting and fears of future Ethnic unrest and tensions in The country is growing.
Voters are casting their votes ballots in Amazing number of contestsIncluding for The three members of The tripartite presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, deputies of Center parliament and thread of local races.
Polls opened at 7 am local time (5 am GMT).
After nearly three decades of war that devastated the Balkan nation, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains burdened with ethnic divisions.
The Balkan country was ruled by a dysfunctional administrator system Created under the 1995 Dayton Accord that succeeded in End the conflict in the nineties but by and large failed in saving a framework for politics in the country development.
Bosnia and Herzegovina remains Divided between a Serbian entity – Republika Srpska (RS) – and a Croatian Muslim Federation attached to a weak central government.
In the aftermath of the war, ethnic political parties have long exploited the country’s divisions in try to keep it power.
“hopefull for nothing. I vote Because that’s the only thing I can do as an individual,” said Omra Pesic, 57.year- Economist, she’s casting her vote in Sarajevo.
Alliance clash
In the run-up For Sunday’s vote, the country was torn between Orthodox Serb separatists and Catholic Croats who are demanding more autonomy and electoral reforms.
Bosniaks Muslims in the country will do so also face Cucumber of vote for 11- disparate party coalition that trying to take off rule of mainstream party of Democratic Action (SDA).
Leading SDA Bakr Izetbegovic – son of The first president of Independent Bosnia and Herzegovina – and largely dominated the political landscape in Country for contracts.
Many voters say that the shortage of young Candidates who present their new ideas left Pretty much uninspiring on eve of The election.
“Most of The candidates competing are the ones we’ve been watching for The last Twenty years old, said Sarah Djojic, 21-year-old philosophy student in The capital is Sarajevo.
“There are not many who displays something new,” she added.
With little or no polling data availableAnalysts say that the current and nationalist parties that dominated the post- The political landscape of the war is likely to win many of races.
Leader of Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, are seeking third place term as chief of RS, after completing a task in Triple Presidency.
to me past yearDodik was stoking tensions with His frequent calls for Bosnian Serbs would further separate from the country’s central institutions, earning new sanctions from the United States in January.
Dudek’s main rival, Jelena Trevik, vows to crack down on corruption in If RS elected.
“our revenge It will be the law,” Trevik said in the future of The election.
Fears of disturbance
For the Catholic Croats in the country, the political turmoil also She was brewing.
Before of In the elections, many Croats were demanding electoral reforms with The leading national party The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) threatens to boycott Competition.
Their complaints are overwhelmed in The huge numerical advantage held by the Bosniaks in The Croat Muslim Federation, which allowed Muslim voters to establish effective control over who Maybe elected to me lead Croats at the presidential level.
The Croatian Democratic Union and other Croatian parties have been calling for The creation of a new mechanism for allow The community To choose their representatives in the presidency and the Supreme house.
The move, however, was met with stiff opposition by the ruling Bosniaks in the Federation party.
with threats of New counties and fears are rising of Possible post-election turmoil if incumbent Croatian co-chairman Zeljko Komsic – who Widespread cursing by all Croatian parties view Re-elected as Bosnian Agent.
The constant threats and vitriol of some have led to this skip Sunday polling booth.
“I don’t expect anything. new After this election. “Everything will be the same,” said retired Mira Slawjevic. in her seventies in Sarajevo.
“I didn’t vote for a long time ago” added.
The first plank of primary results Expected several hours After the polls close at 7 pm (9 pm GMT).
