# Moderate Bosniak candidate leads in race for presidency seat Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-10-03 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Moderate Bosniak Denis Becirevic Leads in Bosnia Meta Description: Preliminary results show Denis Becirevic leading Bosnia's presidential race, promising a positive turnaround in the midst of the country's worst URL: https://financedigest.com/moderate-bosniak-candidate-leads-in-race-for-presidency-seathtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-10-02t131834z1lynxmpei9105jrtroptp4bosnia-election-1736815110464-compressed.jpg) By Daria Sito-Sucic SARAJEVO (Reuters) -Moderate Bosniak candidate Denis Becirevic is leading in the run-up for the seat on Bosnia’s tripartite inter-ethnic presidency, preliminary results based on a partial vote count showed on Monday. Becirevic, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) member who was backed by 11 opposition civic-oriented parties, won 55.78% of the votes over Bakir Izetbegovic, whose nationalist Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) Party of the Democratic Action (SDA) party has been in power since the end of the war in 1996. Izetbegovic, who according to the election commission won 39.31% of the votes, conceded defeat late on Sunday. Bosnia’s voters turned out to choose the [country’s new collective presidency and lawmakers at national](https://www.financedigest.com/imf-and-the-national-bank-of-belgium-sign-sdr-350-million-borrowing-agreement-to-support-lending-to-low-income-countries.html "IMF and the National Bank of Belgium Sign SDR 350 million Borrowing Agreement to Support Lending to Low-Income Countries"), regional and local levels, in a contest between entrenched nationalists and economy-focused reformists. Bosnia is going through its [worst political crisis since](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-factories-suffer-worst-month-since-may-2020-as-economy-stumbles-pmi.html "UK factories suffer worst month since May 2020 as economy stumbles – PMI") the end of its war in the 1990s, prompted by the separatist policies of the Serb leadership and threats of blockades by Bosnian Croats. It is [time for a positive turnaround in Bosnia,” Becirovic told reporters](https://www.financedigest.com/london-reclaims-place-as-preeminent-global-financial-centre-for-the-first-time-since-2013-according-to-global-regulatory-outlook-report-from-duff-phelps.html "London reclaims place as preeminent global financial centre for the first time since 2013, according to Global Regulatory Outlook report from Duff & Phelps") after proclaiming victory. Election authorities said early Monday Borjana Kristo of the nationalist Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) won 51.36% of the votes for the Croat presidency member and moderate Zeljko Komsic came second with 48.64% of the votes, based on 54.73% of counted ballots. On Sunday, Komsic declared victory after SDA preliminary results put him ahead of Kristo with 70.73% of the votes, based on 80% of the ballots counted. Zeljka Cvijanovic, an ally of the Bosnian Serb separatist pro-Russian leader, Milorad Dodik, won 51.65% of the votes counted in the race for Serb member of the Bosnian presidency. The commission said it would continue to update preliminary results daily as of Monday. Bosnia comprises two autonomous regions: the Serb-dominated Serb Republic and the Federation shared by Bosniaks, or Bosnian Muslims, and Croats, linked by a weak central government. The Federation is further split into 10 cantons. There is also the neutral Brcko district in the north. The race for the job of Bosnia’s autonomous Serb Republic president between Dodik and the opposition’s Jelena Trivic, an economy professor, still seemed inconclusive, based on [parties’ rival results](https://www.financedigest.com/centre-right-gerb-party-leads-in-bulgaria-election-partial-results.html "Centre-right GERB party leads in Bulgaria election -partial results"). Komsic’s declaration of victory was harshly criticised by Croat political parties, which complain that majority Bosniaks [elect their presidency](https://www.financedigest.com/wickremesinghe-a-wily-political-survivor-elected-sri-lankas-president.html "Wickremesinghe, a wily political survivor, elected Sri Lanka’s president") member. They have threatened to [block the formation of a regional government if Komsic wins](https://www.financedigest.com/hermes-asks-court-to-block-metabirkin-nft-sales-after-jury-win.html "Hermes asks court to block ‘MetaBirkin’ NFT sales after jury win"). But just an hour after polls closed, the [international peace overseer for Bosnia imposed changes to the election law](https://www.financedigest.com/international-law-firm-calls-in-viato-connect-uk-and-us-offices.html "INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM CALLS IN VIATO CONNECT UK AND US OFFICES"), imposing unblocking mechanisms and strict deadlines to safeguard the functioning of the Federation. The [election commission said that turnout](https://www.financedigest.com/turnout-in-iraqs-election-reached-41-electoral-commission.html "Turnout in Iraq’s election reached 41% – electoral commission") by 7 p.m. (1700 GMT) was 50%. (Additional [reporting by Reuters](https://www.financedigest.com/indonesia-to-tighten-used-shoe-import-controls-after-reuters-report.html "Indonesia to tighten used shoe import controls after Reuters report") TV and Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Jan Harvey, Alexander Smith, Nick Macfie, Diane Craft and Sam Holmes) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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