SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The seventh presidential and parliamentary elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the end of the Bosnian War will take place on October 12.
Voters will elect three members to the Presidency of the Council: One Bosniak and one Croat elected from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one Serb elected from the Republika Srpska.
Together, they serve one four-year term. The member with the most votes becomes the chairman, but the chairmanship rotates every eight months, to ensure equality.
Elections of local, cantonal and state legislatures will take place at the same time. Contesting the election are 65 political parties, 24 independent candidates, and 24 coalitions, with 7,748 candidates racing for 813 seats for 4 years. There are a greater number of women candidates this year than in the past; 40 percent of those running for office are women this year, as opposed to 33 percent in the previous election.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has two entities, 10 cantons and an autonomous region. The country's complex political structure, economic crisis, high level of unemployment and unhealed war wounds make the elections even more critical.
www.aa.com.tr/en
