Local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2024: political elites living in a parallel reality
O n 6 October 2024 , Bosnia and Herzegovina will hold its 8th local elections since the country declared independence in 1992. The elections will determine the mayors of municipalities and cities, as well as members of municipal and city councils and assemblies, across 143 local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (111 municipalities, 32 cities, and the Brčko District BiH, as a separate administrative unit). The number of registered voters stands at 3.4 million, which significantly exceeds the population of BiH. A total of 110 political parties are participating in the elections, with 386 candidates running for mayoral positions. More than 25,700 candidates will compete for seats in local community councils. The estimated cost of the election is EUR 9.7 million. Of the 386 candidates for mayors in BiH, only 29 are women, making up just 7.5%. Mayors of local communities are elected directly, except in three cities – Sarajevo, Mostar, and Brčko District BiH. The international OSCE