# Bosnia Nationalists Win Election Despite Fraud Crackdown

> Bosnian nationalists secure victory with new voter tech, as turnout drops to 40%.
- Title: Bosnia Nationalists Win Election Despite Fraud Crackdown · Dw
- Summary: Bosnian nationalists secure victory with new voter tech, as turnout drops to 40%. Bosnia's nationalist parties won elections despite low turnout and new…
- Keywords: bosnia, nationalists, election, voter turnout, republika srpska, federation of bosnia and herzegovina, dayton peace agreement, snsd, sdah, hdz bih, milorad dodik, denis becirovic
- Source: Dw — https://dw.com/en/bosnia-election-new-technology-might-have-stopped-votes-being-cast-on-behalf-of-dead-voters-but-the-result-remains-unchanged/a-79544717?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bosnia, nationalists, election, voter turnout, republika srpska, federation of bosnia and herzegovina, dayton peace agreement, snsd, sdah, hdz bih, milorad dodik, denis becirovic
## Record Low Turnout
Voter turnout in Bosnia reached a record low of just over 40% on October 4.
## New Technology Introduced
New technology was introduced to stop vote-rigging, including biometric fingerprint checks at every polling station.
## Nationalist Parties Win
Three nationalist parties won each within their own community: SNSD among Serbs, SDA among Bosniaks, and HDZ BiH among Croats.
## Dayton Agreement Context
The 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement ended the war but split Bosnia into two entities: Republika Srpska and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
## Milorad Dodik's Return
Milorad Dodik, barred from office for six years after a 2025 conviction, led SNSD to victory in Republika Srpska.
## Dodik's Plan for State Dismantling
Dodik announced a return to the 'original Dayton,' aiming to dismantle state powers by returning the army, border police, and intelligence to Republika Srpska.
## SNSD's Victory Despite Sanctions
SNSD won Republika Srpska with Savo Minic as president and Zeljka Cvijanovic retaining the Serb presidency seat.
## Federation of Bosnia Defeat
The 'Troika' coalition lost, with SDA winning the most seats but Bakir Izetbegovic losing the presidency to Denis Becirovic of the Social Democrats.
## Croat Surprise Victory
Darijana Filipovic of HDZ BiH won the Croat seat in the presidency, becoming the youngest candidate to win.
## State Fragmentation Risk
Two nationalist parties with goals to split Bosnia into smaller entities now control the presidency, signaling potential state fragmentation.
## International Rivalry
Dodik thanked Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump after his party's victory, highlighting Western Balkans rivalry between Russia, EU, and US.
## Key takeaway

Bosnia's nationalist parties won elections despite low turnout and new voter verification technology, signaling a shift toward state fragmentation.