2010–12 Bosnia and Herzegovina government formation

The formation of a government in the Bosniak and Croat-dominated Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the bigger of Bosnia's two entities, remains on hold since the October 2022 election, as the governing coalition that promised its quick formation falls apart. 

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Things were beginning to look pleasantly boring in Bosnia after the recent formation of the central government in December, after which many political analysts and Bosnian citizens breathed a sigh of relief. But the respite from crisis was sadly short-lived in Bosnia.

Bosnia and Herzegovina on Dec. 23 formed a new government 14 months after general elections in October 2018.

Receiving a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, the new government was formed by the country's largest Bosniak, Serb and Croat parties, who agreed to form the government last month.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg said on Tuesday that it has ruled that Bosnia and Herzegovina must amend the country's electoral law to allow local elections to be held in Mostar after an 11-year gap.

Chairman of Bosnian Presidency Milorad Dodik (R) and Member of Bosnian Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic (L) Caption, Photo: EPA/Fehim Demir

The OHR, the international institution overseeing peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Thursday condemned an initiative by the leading Bosniak party, the Party of Democratic Action, SDA, to challenge the name of the country's mainly Serbian entity, Republika Srpska .

While Bosnia awaits the formation of governments at entity and state level, an attempt by a new MP to change his ethnic status has highlighted a strange loophole in Bosnian law and politics.

Bosnia and Herzegovina entered its official pre-election campaign period on Friday, ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections that will be held on October 7.

A total of 3,352,933 registered voters may choose between 53 parties, 36 coalitions, and 34 independent candidates that have been confirmed as eligible to run by Bosnia's Central Election Commission.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said this in a statement on Wednesday, Beta agency is reporting.

The top international official in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko, warned the UN Security Council that the Bosnian Serb leadership was threatening a referendum on secession and glorifying war criminals.