Presidential vote kicks off in Bosnia

People in Bosnia and Herzegovina are voting to choose the country’s tripartite presidency and a new parliament.

Some 3.3 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Bosnia’s general elections. They must elect a Croat, a Muslim and a Serb member for the joint presidency.

A new parliament would also be elected for the country’s two semi-autonomous entities, namely the Muslim-Croat Federation and the Serbs’ Republika Srpska. The Muslims and Croats have their own regional parliaments and the Republika Srpska, which is home to the Orthodox Serbs, has its own president.

Catholic Croats, Muslim Bosniaks and Orthodox Serbs each elect a representative and the national parliament elects the government.

The vote comes amid mounting social discontent, ethnic disputes and widespread corruption. The elections are expected to pave the way for Bosnia’s membership in the European Union.

IA/HSN/KA