Milorad Dodik, the leader of the Bosnian Serbs and head of the SNSD party, late in the evening of 4 October announced the victory of his candidates in the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite being banned from holding state office, his allies confidently took key positions in Republika Srpska and the Serb seat in the country's presidency.
According to preliminary data, Željka Cvijanović of the SNSD is garnering around 55% votes for the post of the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia. Savo Minić, the current Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, is leading in the election for president of the entity with a result of around 52%. Dodik's party also retains its dominance in the parliament of Republika Srpska, having won almost 39% votes.
Voter turnout in the elections turned out to be record low — around 42%. Dodik, who was removed from office last year for violating the Dayton Agreements, did not participate in the voting, but remains the main figure in the Serb part of the country.
In his victory speech, he thanked Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, noting that the change in the political situation in the United States helped the party avoid political isolation. Dodik also emphasized that the SNSD does not intend to change course.
The Financial Times states outright that Dodik has confirmed his intention to seek the secession of Republika Srpska from the rest of Bosnia. Exactly how this will affect the fragile balance in the country, the near future will show.
The elections took place within the complex system created by the Dayton Agreements after the war of 1992–1995. Nationalist parties strengthened their positions along all three ethnic lines, which could increase tension in the region.
