Big turnout, no violence in Bosnia’s crunch vote

Voters decide who will lead with the end of international supervision

Sulejman Tihic, a Bosnian Muslim member of the Bosnian tripartite presidency and one of strongest candidates for the position of Bosnian Presidency member, on behalf of Bosnian Muslim voters, casts his vote on general election day, yesterday, in Sarajevo. Bosnian general elections are to decide members of the Presidency as well as members of the Parliament assembly.

By Maja Zuvela - Reuters

SARAJEVO - Bosnians turned out in big numbers for parliamentary elections yesterday to choose politicians who will lead the Balkan nation after international supervision ends next year. Some 4,300 voting stations closed at 7 p.m. (local time).

First preliminary results for the tri-presidency were expected late on Sunday and other results today. Election officials said turnout was higher than in previous elections since 400,000 new voters were registered automatically as holders of new identity cards.

“The absolute number of voters is much, much higher than in 2002,” said election commission member Lidija Korac. The overall turnout in the last parliamentary election in 2002 was around 55 percent.

The dismantling next year of the international protectorate set up after the 1992-1995 war should demonstrate to the EU that the former Yugoslav republic can function without outside help. But Muslim, Serb and Croat leaders have opposing views on how to run Bosnia and the election campaign has showed that ethnic division still runs deep 11 years after the war ended.

The turnout at 2 p.m. (local time) was 31.54 percent. No major incidents were reported during the ballot.

“A higher turnout shows the beginning of political maturing in Bosnian society,” said political analyst Ibrahim Prohic.

Bosnians voted for Serb, Croat and Muslim members of the state tri-presidency and Parliament as well as the president and two vice-presidents in the Serb Republic.

They also cast ballots for the assemblies of the two regions and 10 cantons in the federation.

The main Muslim Party of Democratic Action faces a strong challenge from its current ruling allies, the Party for Bosnia-Herzegovina, and from the Social Democrats, the biggest opposition and multi-ethnic party.

The long-dominant Croatian Democratic Union has lost some influence but should still do well.

The Alliance of Independent Social Democrats of Prime Minister Milorad Dodik is set for a big win in the Serb Republic.