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Because of irregularities, the Presidential election be partially repeated in the Serbian part of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Republika Srpska (RS). On February 8th, more than 80,000 citizens, around six percent of the polling stations assigned to the RS, are expected to vote for their president again. This was decided by the Central Election Commission in Sarajevo.
At the original election in November there were irregularities. Siniša Karan, a confidant of the previous President Milorad Dodik, had won by less than 10,000 votes. He received 50.4 percent of the vote, his main opponent Branko Blanuša received 48.2 percent of the vote. During recounts, the electoral commission found deviations from the published results at 60 polling stations. According to the commission, there is also suspicion in several places that voter identities without valid identification documents were misused and signatures were forged.
The original election was brought forward because Dodik was convicted of separatist activities after a court ruling had been discontinued. The 66-year-old was no longer allowed to run. The new president will be in office for just under a year until the legislative session ends in 2026. The Republika Srpska then elects its parliament and its president again.
Around a third of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s 3.5 million inhabitants live in the republic, and its area covers almost half of the country.
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