Votes split along ethnic lines
Nationalist parties are in the lead in most Bosnian municipalities after the country's local elections held on 5 October 2008.
According to preliminary results, voters supported parties strongly associated with their.respective communities (Serbian, Croat or Muslim) rather than multi-ethnic parties.
Out of 149 municipalities, the Independent Union of Social Democrats (SNSD) has won 32 local authorities, mainly in Serb-dominated areas, while the mainly Muslim Party of Democratic Action (SDA) leads in Muslim parts of the country with 28 municipalities. The Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) has won 15 posts of mayors, all in mainly Croat municipalities.
Some 55% of the 3 million voters went to the ballot, a higher turnout than in the last local elections in 2004.
According to the delegation of the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the elections were in line with democratic standards. However, the delegation stressed that most political parties focused their campaign on ethnic issues rather than local issues.
rn
Climate, Sustainable Finance Officer
