SDA party

Ljubljana – Faris Kočan, a researcher at the Centre of International Relations at the Ljubljana Faculty of Social Sciences, believes the results of the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina available so far indicate time may have come for civic ideas as opposed to nationalism.

Yet some experts, officials and diplomats say future elections are almost irrelevant while local leaders continue to block the system, playing their lose-lose games.

To make matters worse, Bosnia's unfolding political drama is increasingly intertwined with other regional and international disputes, especially with the tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.

Sefik Dzaferovic (L), the presidential candidate from the main Muslim SDA party for Bosnia's three-man presidency, flanked by Bakir Izetbegovic, the SDA party leader, speaks at the party headquarters in Sarajevo on October 7, 2018.

Bakir Izetbegovic is the leader of the SDA party and currently the Bosniak (Muslim) representative in the tripartite Presidency of BiH.

Sebija Izetbegovic spoke during an SDA campaign gathering in central Sarajevo to say she is "not a professional politician - but will become one, God willing."

Photo: Z.Zestic / Tanjug

Serb Republic (RS) President Milorad Dodik says that Russian President Vladimir Putin "did not ask him to secede from Bosnia-Herzegovina."

The secession of the Serb entity is "not on the agenda," Dodik added, but would not rule out the possibility of it happening one day.

Bakir Izetbegovic is under scrutiny of U.S. secret services because of his connections with the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, writes the daily EuroBlic.

Increasing tension within Bosnia's main Bosniak [Muslim] party, the Party of Democratic Action, SDA, suggests that the party leader  - who is also chairman of the Bosnian Presidency - Bakir Izetbegovic, is losing his grip, analysts say. 

Relations with Serbia are improving, while Bosnia-Herzegovina will not recognize Kosovo in the foreseeable future, Bakir Izetbegovic has said.

Izetbegovic, the leader of the SDA party and the Bosniak (Muslim) member of the country's tripartite presidency, made these statements for Turkey's Anadolu news agency.

Bakir Izetbegovic has rejected the claims that he and people close to him were behind the attack that targeted Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic.

Deputies in the Federation parliament on Monday confirmed the appointments of the new entity officials as the country took another step towards forming governments after last October's elections.

The formation of the government in the Federation entity will also enable the formation of the state government, the Council of Ministers.