Bosnians voted in elections for the country’s central tripartite presidency, national parliament and regional legislatures, with the outcome potentially affecting Bosnia’s European Union membership bid and the influence of the United States and Russia. Public frustration has grown as the economy slows, EU accession talks remain stalled and ethnically based parties repeatedly block decisions by the weak central government. Bosnia received EU candidate status in December 2022 and approval to open accession negotiations in 2024, but talks have not begun because leaders have not completed requirements including stronger judicial oversight and anti-corruption laws. Poliwave tracking showed the Bosniak SDA narrowly ahead nationally with 21.4%, followed by the Social Democratic Party at 16.7%, while Milorad Dodik’s SNSD led in Republika Srpska with 34.2%. Continued dominance by ethnic parties could further delay accession progress. The election also unfolded amid competing external interests: the EU seeks Balkan expansion, Russia supports Republika Srpska, and the United States is promoting a $1.5 billion liquefied natural gas pipeline project. Christian Schmidt, a former German government minister who served as the international High Representative, resigned in May under U.S. pressure.