Budapest, 24 November 2025 (dpa/MIA) – Siniša Karan from the Serb nationalist SNSD ruling party won the early presidential election in Republika Srpska (RS), the Serbian entity within Bosnia-Herzegovina, according to preliminary official results.

Karan received 200,116 votes, or 50.85%, defeating opposition candidate Branko Blanuša, an electronics professor from the SDS opposition, who garnered 188,010 votes (47.8%), the Central Election Commission in Sarajevo reported late Sunday after counting ballots in 92.79% of polling stations.

The preliminary election winner is seen as close to deposed president Milorad Dodik, who was removed from office for separatist activities following a court ruling. This prompted the early election.

Karan performed worse than Dodik in the 2022 election, winning by just 12,000 votes compared with Dodik's nearly 27,000-vote margin over runner-up Jelena Trivic.

Around 1.2 million people were eligible to vote, with turnout at roughly 35%, down from 53% in 2022. As a snap election, the new president will serve a one-year term, seen as a test ahead of the 2026 parliamentary and presidential votes.

Karan thanked voters and his political mentor Dodik. "When it was hardest, the Serbian people triumphed... Many thanks to Milorad Dodik and all deputies who defended Republika Srpska," he said.

Political observers do not see Karan continuing with Dodik's separatist campaign. Dodik maintained good relations with Moscow during his time in office. He intends to continue as head of the SNSD, despite being banned from public office.

Defeated candidate Blanuša attributed his loss to unspecified irregularities. "If there had been no manipulation, I could be announcing victory tonight," he said, according to Bosnian media. His party called for a re-run of the vote in three towns, citing alleged fraud, but offered no concrete evidence.

Since the end of the 1992-95 Bosnian war, Bosnia-Herzegovina has comprised two entities: the Bosniak-Croat Federation (FBiH), with its largely Croatian and Bosniak Muslim population, and the predominantly Serbian RS.

The components enjoy far-reaching autonomy, except in foreign, defence and security policy. The RS president has considerable influence on the appointment of government ministers and other positions and on the political agenda.

Photo: epa