Budapest, 23 November 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Voters in the Serbian entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Republic of Srpska (RS), are set to go to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president following the dismissal of separatist leader Milorad Dodik.

New elections were called after Dodik was convicted of anti-constitutional activities against the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Besides removing him from office, August's judgement also bans him from holding political office for six years.

Siniša Karan, a close confidante of Dodik and a member of the governing Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) party, as well as Branko Blanuša from the opposition Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), are considered the lead candidates, although there is no reliable polling to back this.

Some 1.2 million eligible voters will be able to cast their ballots between 7 am (0600 GMT) and 7 pm, with partial results expected late on Sunday.

Observers don't believe Karan would continue the separatist agenda pursued by Dodik were he to win.

A Serbian nationalist, the former president holds close ties to Russia and hopes to continue to influence domestic politics as chair of the SNSD.

The new president is only set to serve for one year until the end of the current parliamentary term, before regular parliamentary and presidential elections are held in 2026.

The country is divided between the two entities - the Bosniak-Croat Federation (FBiH) and the RS, which enjoy extensive autonomy - plus a relatively weak head of state and federal parliament.

The highly complex governance system was imposed in 1995 as part of the Dayton Agreement. The peace deal put an end to the Bosnian War – but also granted broad authority to ethnic leaders.

MIA file photo