SARAJEVO, Sept 9 (Hina) - Four weeks prior to the general election in Bosnia-Herzegovina, voters are turning their backs on nationalist parties, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is continuing to record a slight increase in
popularity. These are the latest indicators following a public opinion poll conducted by the US National Democratic Institute (NDI).
SARAJEVO, Sept 9 (Hina) - Four weeks prior to the general election
in Bosnia-Herzegovina, voters are turning their backs on
nationalist parties, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is
continuing to record a slight increase in popularity. These are the
latest indicators following a public opinion poll conducted by the
US National Democratic Institute (NDI). #L#
During the poll conducted between Aug. 23 and Sept. 3, 2,400 Bosnian
citizens were surveyed. The director of NDI for Bosnia, Michael
Blagus, pointed out that the responses point to a constant even
though not dramatic fall in popularity for the three largest
national parties - the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), the Party of
Democratic Action (SDA), and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).
It is significant that at least two of these three parties could
retain vital influence for positions that are more symbolic and
less practical, such as membership to the Bosnian Presidency or the
President of Republika Srpska.
It appears as if electors are sending two varying messages, Balagus
explained on Monday at a press conference in Sarajevo. The majority
still want to preserve national symbols while simultaneously
seeking that moderate parties and politicians continue commenced
reforms, he said.
At the moment, so-called moderate parties can count on 52 percent of
the vote election for the Bosnian House of Representatives.
The largest parties in the state parliament could most likely be the
SDP and SDS, with 15 percent of the vote each. The SDA could gain 11
percent, while the HDZ could be given 10 per cent of the vote.
As far as the Bosnian Federation is concerned, the six moderate
parties forming the current government enjoy 51 percent of the
support by the electoral body for the most influential positions in
the entity's parliament. The SDA and HDZ together could get 34 MP
seats.
In Republika Srpska the SDS is continuing to lose popularity in the
entity's parliament even though it still holds a leading position.
That party recently fell from a 40 percent popularity share to a
still significant of 38 percent. The opposition's SNSD can now
count on 21 percent of the vote, while the Party of Democratic
Progress (PDP), headed by Premier Mladen Ivanic, could be given 16
percent of the vote. The Radical Party still enjoys seven percent of
the vote.
(hina) sp/ha