A close ally of nationalist Bosnian Serb politician Milorad Dodik appeared poised to win the presidency of Bosnia’s Serb entity after the November 23 snap vote, according to near-final results released on November 24. 

With almost all ballots counted, electoral authorities said Sinisa Karan — backed by Dodik’s ruling SNSD party — secured just over half of the vote in Republika Srpska, narrowly ahead of opposition candidate Branko Blanusa, who received roughly 48%. The opposition alleged widespread fraud and demanded a partial rerun of the election.

The vote was held after Dodik was forced out of office earlier this year following a court ruling that convicted him of ignoring decisions issued by Bosnia’s international overseer. He avoided a prison sentence by paying a fine but was barred from public office for six years. Despite stepping aside from the presidency, he remains the dominant political force in the Serb-run region.

“Sinisa Karan won the early elections for the President of the Republic of Srpska,” Dodik wrote on X. 

“These elections were held under unfavorable circumstances, and the people did not want these elections. This victory is great for the SNSD because it is a victory for Srpska.” 

Blanusa rejected the preliminary result, accusing the ruling party of irregularities. Opposition figures allege that ineligible voters were brought in from neighbouring Serbia to influence the outcome.

“I want to thank everyone who supported the vision of a different Republic of Srpska in this election,” Blanusa wrote on Facebook. 

“These elections are still not over - they will be over when the election process is repeated in Doboj, Zvornik and Laktasi, where thanks to the election manipulations, the results do not reflect the will of the people. If we gave up now, we would be just like them - they would deceive and betray the people!” 

Karan said his administration would continue the policies pursued under Dodik, local media reported. Dodik has long pushed for greater autonomy and has repeatedly floated the possibility of Republika Srpska breaking away from Bosnia altogether.

Dodik has faced Western sanctions over his separatist agenda and confrontations with the international High Representative Christian Schmidt, whose mandate he has repeatedly rejected. Washington lifted sanctions against him last month after he agreed to comply with the court order removing him from office.

The election commission is expected to certify final results in the coming days, though any rerun ordered after formal complaints could delay the process.