News

“All Win” In Bosnia's Local Elections, BalkanInsight.com (2008)

This article reflects the first reactions of local political parties following the release of preliminary results from the October 5 local elections.

Opinion on the draft Amendments to the Constitution of Republika Srpska, Venice Commission (2008)

The Venice Commission was asked to assess of the proposed Amendments to the Constitution of Republika Srpska. They provided comments on the provisions relating to local government at the request of the Directorate of Democratic Institutions of the Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs. The present Opinion was adopted by the Venice Commission at its 75th Plenary Session in Venice from 13 to 14 June 2008.

Joint Opinion on Amendments to the Election Law of BiH, Venice Commission (2008)

This joint opinion on the amendments to the Election Law of BiH is prepared by the (OSCE/ODIHR) and the Council of Europe’s European Commission for Democracy Through Law (Venice Commission).

Lajcak, Dodik agree constitutional reform talks will begin after BiH's local elections, SET.com (2008)

High Representative and Republika Srpska Prime Minister agreed on June 17th in Banja Luka that constitutional reform talks will begin immediately after the October 5th local elections.

Election laws are changed for Srebrenica voters who moved, New Europe (2008)

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s state parliament passed amendments to the country’s elections law on May 7 in Sarajevo, changing voting rules for voters of the eastern town of Srebrenica.

BiH parliament approves new voting procedures for Srebrenica, SET (2008)

The Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) parliament adopted amendments to the country's election law on Wednesday (May 7th). People who lived in Srebrenica until the 1992-1995 conflict but now reside elsewhere will be able to participate in the municipality's local elections later this year.

Bosnia Calls Elections for October 3, Fails to Change Constitution (Balkan Insight, 2010)

Bosnians will head to the polls on October 3 in what has been described as a crucial post-war general election, with the outcome likely determining wether the country will move forward on its EU path or remain stuck in political deadlock.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Three RS parties form pre-election coalition (SETimes.com, 2010)

The three ruling parties in Republika Srpska -- the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), the Democratic People's Alliance and the Socialist Party -- have agreed to back a single candidate for RS president.

No breakthrough expected in Bosnian elections - Feature (Earth Times, 2010)

Sarajevo - More than 50 parties and independent candidates are set to run in Bosnia's general election on October 3, but the fresh faces aren't likely to herald an end to the country's political stalemate.

BiH Constitutional Court says it can't rule on electoral reform (SETimes.com, 2010)

The Constitutional Court said on Monday (August 9th) it cannot rule on a lawsuit filed by representatives of the national minorities who want the October 3rd general elections postponed until parliament amends electoral legislation in line with recommendations by the European Court in Strasbourg

Bosnia and Herzegovina: October 3rd, 2010: BiH’s Big Chance to Prove Progress or…? (Turkish Weekly, 2010)

On 5 May 2010 Bosnia’s Central Election Commission (CES) decided to set Sunday 3rd of October as the day for the general elections. As the second general elections that Bosnia is supposed to organize entirely on her own, without international presence, they represent a challenge for Bosnias future rising the question if she is ready to continue the road which will lead to complete integration in EU.

Serb resolve for breakaway grows with autumn election set (TribuneMagazine.co.uk, 2010)

The international community is bracing itself for the fallout from this autumn’s presidential and parliamentary elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

8,000 candidates to run in BiH's October elections (SETimes.com, 2010)

The Central Election Commission announced on Tuesday (August 24th) that more than 8,000 candidates plan to run in the October 3rd general elections.

Bosnia prints names of 8,000 election candidates (emg.rs, 2010)

More than 8,000 people have registered as candidates for the 265 lawmaker posts in Bosnia's state and regional parliaments, the election commission announced Tuesday.

OSCE observers arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina to observe general elections (HREA News, 2010)

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the general elections to be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 3 October.

Election campaign kicks off in BiH (Southeast European Times, 2010)

Campaigning for the October 3rd general elections officially begins on Friday (September 3rd).

Campaigning begins in Bosnia elections (EUobserver.com, 2010)

The campaign for general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), scheduled for 3 October, started on Friday (3 September). Fifteen years after the end of a bitter interethnic war and after one and a half decades of being an international protectorate, the main issues remain unchanged: Bosnian Serbs want more autonomy for their "entity," the Republika Srpska (RS), hoping for eventual independence; muslim Bosniaks want a unitarian state in which the Serbian entity is abolished; and the Croats, especially in Herzegovina, dream about setting up an entity of their own.

PACE delegation makes pre-electoral visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Focus News, 2010)

A five-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), led by Tiny Kox (Netherlands, UEL), will carry out a pre-electoral mission to Sarajevo and Banja Luka from 12 to 15 September 2010, ahead of the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 3 October, to assess the electoral framework and campaign, a press release of the Council of Europe states.

Inzko: First-Time voters can revolutionize the political landscape in BiH (EMportal, 2010)

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the seats in the parliaments are often decided by a very small number of votes. Referring to this fact, the High Representative and EU Special Representative, Valentin Inzko, said yesterday that the 80,000 young people who will be eligible to vote for the first time on 3 October can revolutionize the political landscape in this country.

Bosnian Election Coverage 'Biased' (Eurasia Review, 2010)

Media coverage of the election campaigns for Bosnia's October 3 polls is biased and highly unprofessional, according to a media monitoring report.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: At Long Last, the People Speak (New Europe, 2010)

On 3 October, the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina will vote in country-wide elections, choosing their political representatives and, with that choice, their country’s future.

Partial Bosnian vote count suggests divided presidency, BBC News (2010)

This article discusses the major issues in the Bosnian elections. According to the constitution, voters can choose five presidents and 700 MPs. Preliminary results (half of the votes have been counted) indicate that Bakir Izetbegovic is leading the race for the Muslim presidency, while Zeljko Komsic will likely win the Croat seat. The two candidates agree on the idea of a future unified Bosnia, while the Serb candidate Nebojsa Radmanovic supports a Bosnian Serb secession.

History invites itself to Bosnia elections (EurActiv, 2010)

The son of Bosnia's wartime Muslim leader is set to become one of its three presidents, election results showed today (4 October). Analysts said he seems ready to work with other ethnic groups in the divided country.

Ex-Leader's Son Wins Bosnia Vote (The Wall Street Journal, 2010)

The son of Bosnian Muslims' late wartime leader Alija Izetbegovic won a spot on the country's shared presidency in elections Sunday, after a campaign in which he said he wanted more dialogue between the country's still-divided ethnic groups.

New possibilities but old problems after Bosnian elections (bne, 2010)

Bosnia-Herzegovina's election has opened up some new possibilities, but for the time being the divided country and its beleaguered economy look to be in for more of the same.

BiH municipalities vote in snap local elections, SETimes (2011)

Snap local elections took place in BiH this weekend.

Bosnia tension eases as Serbs cancel referendum, BBC (2011)

The article explains that the Bosnian Serb leader has cancelled a referendum that would have gauged support for the presence of a UN envoy that is accused, along with Bosnia's war crimes court, of having a bias against Serbs. The referendum would have also "asked Bosnian Serbs if they supported Bosnia's central institutions, which tackle war crimes cases, corruption and organised crime." After assurances from high ranking EU officials that the system would be reviewed, the referendum was cancelled. The tension between the country's two ethnic groups remains.

Judges, prosecutors, defence lawyers in Bosnia and Herzegovina discuss co-operation under OSCE/ODIHR war crimes project, OSCE (2011)

A training seminar for judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers handling war crimes cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina took place in Sarajevo on 16-17 September.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Parties, citizens oppose postponing BiH Elections, Turkish Weekly (2012)

Two largest political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina suggested to postpone the upcoming local elections till 2014. Many party leaders and citizen oppose it and expect for local elections in October 2012.

BiH delays elections in the 'divided city', SETimes.com (2012)

The failure of the authorities in Mostar municipality to implement orders of Constitutional court, which ruled certain city council electoral procedures unconstitutional, may lead to the situation, where the city is left out of the polls.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Candidates List For Bosnia Polls Published, BalkanInsight (2012)

More than 30000 candidates were registered for upcoming municipal elections in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: the world's most complicated system of government?, The Guardian (2014)

In light of the presidential and legislative elections scheduled for 12 October 2014, this article describes the electoral system for the upcoming elections, as well as the country's system of government.