The Electoral Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina has declared this Thursday the winner of the disputed elections of last October 2 to the Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, of known pro-Russian tendency, who has become the president of Republika Srpska, one of the two entities that make up the country «Milorad Dodik is the president of Republika Srpska», confirmed the head of the electoral body, Suad Arnautovic, after the counting of the votes that were cast in more than 2,200 polling stations. The Bosnian Serb leader now has a lead of some 30,000 ballots ahead of Jelena Trivic, who was seeking re-election and has denounced irregularities during the voting.
Dodik, has been critical of Western countries and has publicly backed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s policies in the Balkans, where he counts Serbia as his main ally. He has spearheaded attempts to separate the Serb part of Bosnia from the rest of the fragile state.
«We cannot continue in Bosnia and Herzegovina,» he said ahead of an election that has been held amid the worst political crisis in the country since the end of the war in 1995, especially over his stated intention to push for a separatist process from Republika Srpska and the failure to amend the electoral law.
Dodik, who was already president of Republika Srpska between 2010 and 2018 and prime minister in two different periods — between 1998 and 2001 and between 2006 and 2010, is a figure of great political weight and influence in the territory regardless of the position he holds. Surrounded by partners such as Russia, Serbia or Hungary, his critics have accused him of being authoritarian and corrupt.
The October 2 general elections saw the election of the Bosnian tripartite Presidency – composed of a Bosniak, a Bosnian Serb and a Bosnian Croat -, the Bosnian Parliamentary Assembly, the legislative bodies of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska – the two entities that make up the country -, the Presidency and Vice-Presidency of the Republika Srpska and ten cantonal assemblies in the Federation.
Although non-nationalist parties and candidates have made some progress, they are still not able to decisively influence the political dynamics of a country that seems to be in a persistent state of stagnation.
