Newsroom
OSCE releases final results from Bosnia and Herzegovina elections
SARAJEVO 27 November 2000
SARAJEVO, 27 November 2000 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina announced today the final certified results of the Bosnia and Herzegovina general elections held on 11 November 2000. These results were technically certified earlier today by the Provisional Election Commission (PEC) in a meeting in Sarajevo.
"The voters successfully used the various electoral innovations provided to them under the Provisional Election Commission Rules and Regulations," said OSCE Head of Mission Ambassador Robert L. Barry. "Using the open list system and the preferential voting system for the Republika Srpska presidency and vice presidency, voters indicated their desire for a government that is more responsive, more transparent, and more accountable to the people. This is a significant step forward in the evolution of democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina."
Total voter turnout, including absentee and out-of-country balloting, was approximately 1.6 million, or 64.4%, for these general elections. Turnout was slightly higher in the Federation, at 67.8%, than in the Republika Srpska, where it was 64.0%.
In reviewing the results, it is clear that voters embraced the electoral innovations of these general elections. As in the municipal elections in April, voters made wide use of the open list system. In addition, voters registered for the Republika Srpska actively utilized the preferential voting system for the election of the Republika Srpska presidency and vice presidency.
To participate effectively in the important events taking place in the region, including negotiations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, and international financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs duly constituted government institutions. The agenda of economic reform is particularly urgent and demanding; to avoid an economic crisis decisions must be taken which a caretaker government is not in a position to do. Likewise, the decisions of the Constitutional Court require the prompt attention of the entity assemblies' constitutional commissions.
Therefore, the PEC once again joins the High Representatives in calling on the outgoing elected bodies to ensure a smooth and timely transfer of power to newly elected officials. The PEC expects the governments at all levels to respect the constitutional deadlines for implementation of these election results. In the case of the Federation cantons, that deadline is generally ten days from certification of the election results. In the cases of the Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives and the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that deadline is thirty days. While no time limits are specified for the Republika Srpska National Assembly, we expect them to meet within 30 days as well.
The PEC furthermore reiterates its call for outgoing officials to respect the will of the people, and ensure the protection of state property and assets during the transition period. These elections demonstrate that the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina do not want to be left behind as the rest of the region begins to move forward. The greatest risk to the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina today is that it will stagnate, dragged down in a mire of corruption, unemployment, and lack of foreign investment potential, at the very moment when its neighbors are taking decisions to move closer to the rest of Europe. If Bosnia and Herzegovina is not to be left behind, its leaders must be prepared to overcome the politics of fear and division and move forward in unison. Otherwise, the country risks being relegated to the back burner of Europe.
For a comprehensive review of the general election results please refer to the OSCE Mission official website at www.oscebih.org.
For additional information, please call OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++387/(33)292-222 or ++387/(66)144-311.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
"The voters successfully used the various electoral innovations provided to them under the Provisional Election Commission Rules and Regulations," said OSCE Head of Mission Ambassador Robert L. Barry. "Using the open list system and the preferential voting system for the Republika Srpska presidency and vice presidency, voters indicated their desire for a government that is more responsive, more transparent, and more accountable to the people. This is a significant step forward in the evolution of democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina."
Total voter turnout, including absentee and out-of-country balloting, was approximately 1.6 million, or 64.4%, for these general elections. Turnout was slightly higher in the Federation, at 67.8%, than in the Republika Srpska, where it was 64.0%.
In reviewing the results, it is clear that voters embraced the electoral innovations of these general elections. As in the municipal elections in April, voters made wide use of the open list system. In addition, voters registered for the Republika Srpska actively utilized the preferential voting system for the election of the Republika Srpska presidency and vice presidency.
To participate effectively in the important events taking place in the region, including negotiations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, and international financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs duly constituted government institutions. The agenda of economic reform is particularly urgent and demanding; to avoid an economic crisis decisions must be taken which a caretaker government is not in a position to do. Likewise, the decisions of the Constitutional Court require the prompt attention of the entity assemblies' constitutional commissions.
Therefore, the PEC once again joins the High Representatives in calling on the outgoing elected bodies to ensure a smooth and timely transfer of power to newly elected officials. The PEC expects the governments at all levels to respect the constitutional deadlines for implementation of these election results. In the case of the Federation cantons, that deadline is generally ten days from certification of the election results. In the cases of the Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives and the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that deadline is thirty days. While no time limits are specified for the Republika Srpska National Assembly, we expect them to meet within 30 days as well.
The PEC furthermore reiterates its call for outgoing officials to respect the will of the people, and ensure the protection of state property and assets during the transition period. These elections demonstrate that the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina do not want to be left behind as the rest of the region begins to move forward. The greatest risk to the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina today is that it will stagnate, dragged down in a mire of corruption, unemployment, and lack of foreign investment potential, at the very moment when its neighbors are taking decisions to move closer to the rest of Europe. If Bosnia and Herzegovina is not to be left behind, its leaders must be prepared to overcome the politics of fear and division and move forward in unison. Otherwise, the country risks being relegated to the back burner of Europe.
For a comprehensive review of the general election results please refer to the OSCE Mission official website at www.oscebih.org.
For additional information, please call OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++387/(33)292-222 or ++387/(66)144-311.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.