On Thursday 30 March 2017 the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe discussed a report and a recommendation on the observation of the local elections which were held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 2 October 2016. The elections took place against a background of ethnic following the referendum held on 25 September 2016 in Republika Srpska and which concerned the national day of the entity. According to the report presented by Stewart Dickson (United Kingdom, ILDG), voting was held – with the exception of a few violent incidents – in a calm and orderly manner overall. Improvements had been made with regard to the system of “tendered ballots” that had been reformed prior to the elections as well as to the amendment to the Election Law that provides for a 40 per cent quota of the underrepresented gender on candidates’ lists for Municipal Councils. However, the Congress regrets the lack of professionalism and the politicisation of the election administration. 

Press release
Statement by Stewart Dickson
Report CG32(2017)16
Video of the debate
File: 32nd Session of the Congress