ODIHR presents final report on the 2022 elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2022 general elections in Sarajevo between 22 and 25 May 2023. The visit also presented an opportunity for a mid-term review as part of the Support to Elections in the Western Balkans project.

The experts discussed the report’s key findings and recommendations with government officials, members of the parliament, courts and representatives of the media and civil society. Discussions focused, among others, on the revision of the legal framework and elimination of discriminatory restrictions on the right to stand, impartiality and professionalism of polling station commissions, the need to investigate and deter practices of pressure and misuse of administrative resources, protection of journalists from threats and intimidation, facilitation of women’s active participation in public and political life, and protection of the right to vote in secrecy and a free atmosphere.

“We appreciate the constructive dialogue with our counterparts in Bosnia and Herzegovina following our observation of the general elections last year,” said Ambassador Peter Tejler, Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the 2022 general elections. “We encourage the authorities to intensify their efforts in implementing ODIHR’s outstanding recommendations and to facilitate co-ordination and exchange among all relevant electoral stakeholders.”

To bring elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina closer in line with OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections, ODIHR offered assistance including expert support, thematic workshops and legal reviews related to potential changes to the electoral legislation.

ODIHR election observation missions also assess the country’s efforts to implement previous recommendations through changes in legislation, procedures and practices. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the ODIHR mission evaluated the follow-up to recommendations from the ODIHR final reports on the 2014 and 2018 general elections and concluded that nine had been fully implemented, five had been mostly implemented, 18 were partially addressed and 20 remain to be addressed.

In the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Document, all OSCE participating States committed themselves to “follow up promptly the ODIHR’s election assessment and recommendations”.