They take place in an environment of deep ethnic divisions between the three constituent peoples of the country
Some 3.4 million inhabitants with the right to vote are called this Sunday to the polls in Bosnia-Herzegovina, to elect the three members of the collegiate presidency and the deputies of the central Parliament.
The nearly 5,900 polling stations in the Balkan country opened at 07.00 local time (05:00 GMT), where citizens can cast their votes until 7:00 p.m. local time.
Apart from the central Parliament, the deputies of two autonomous parliaments are electedof the two autonomous entities that make up the State of Bosnia: the Serbian Republic and the Common Federation of Muslims and Croats.
are also chosen the president of the Serbian Republic and the assemblies of the ten cantons that make up the Federation.
In total, more than 7,250 candidates of 72 parties and 30 coalitions.
Elections are held in the midst of deep ethnic divisions between the three constitutive peoples of the countrywhich confronts Bosnian Serb secessionist tendencies and an escalation of discord between Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats
The first preliminary results are expected several hours after the polls close.