Plurality and dominance in the regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina

European Commission

Bakir Izetbegović, Chairman of the Bosniak SDA

The Bosniak SDA (18.8%) and the Serb nationalist SNSD (16.1%) remain the strongest forces, followed by the multi-ethnic social democrat SDP (8.7%), the conservative Croat HDZ BiH (7.5%), the conservative Serb SDS (5.7%) and the Bosniak NiP (4.1%), a breakaway from the SDA. There are also six other parties that are at least above two percent.

In the Federation of BiH, the SDA (31%) is in the lead, followed by the SDP (14.2%), HDZ BiH 12.9% and NiP (7%). In Republika Srpska, Serb parties alone set the tone: at the top are the Independent Social Democrat SNSD (37.4%), then the conservative SDS (13.6%), the socialist SP (6.4%), Demos (6.4%), a breakaway from the SDS, and the centrist PDP (6.2%).

In the regions, the ethnic distribution of the population is clearly reflected in the election results. However, the two leading parties, SDA and SNSD, were unable to win a mayoral post in the major cities. However, they are also clearly leading in the mayoral and municipal elections: the SNSD occupies 46 and the SDA 31 offices, the HDZ 19, the SDS 12, the SDP six and another five with the partners of the Trojka: the NiP and the liberal Naša stranka (NS). Only four women (2.8%) were elected to one of the 142 offices (the elections in Jablanica were not held yet, due to the flood disaster).

The International Election Observation Mission states that the elections were "prepared competitively and efficiently while respecting fundamental freedoms", but then criticizes a number of aspects of the implementation. The extent of the violations of electoral law, for example through election manipulation or fraud, ultimately remains unclear. Nevertheless, the electoral law reforms against electoral fraud introduced by the High Representative of the United Nations in March 2024 as part of an "integrity package" have already shown positive effects at the first attempt.