BOSNA I HERCEGOVINA
— Also: Босна и Херцеговина « Bosna i Xercegovina ».
— English: Bosnia-Herzegovina.
— Seat of government: Sarajevo / Сарајево « Sarajevo ».
— Status: Semi-democratic.
— Structure: Government is led by a council of ministers chosen by the House of Representatives (Predstavnički Dom / Представнички Дом « Predstavnički Dom » / Zastupnički Dom), elected by party list in the two entities, nominally led by a three-member, ethnically-determined presidency elected in the two entities, with supervision and some intervention by an international high representative chosen by a consortium of foreign states, and a legislative veto given to the community blocs in the House of Peoples (Dom Naroda / Дом Народа « Dom Naroda »), chosen by the entity governments.
— Heads of government:
Зоран Тегелтија « Zoran Tegeltija », SDA, chair of the council of ministers (since 2019);
Christian Schmidt, international high representative (since 2021);
Šefik Džaferović (Bošnjak),
Милорад Додик « Milorad Dodik » (Србин « Srbin »),
Željko Komšić (Hrvat), presidents.
— Parliamentary parties:
Stranka Demokratske Akcije;
Савез Независних Социјалдемократа « Savez Nezavisnix Socijaldemokrata »;
Hrvatska Demokratska Zajednica;
Socijaldemokratska Partija Bosne i Hercegovine;
Demokratska Fronta;
Српска Демократска Странка « Srpska Demokratska Stranka »;
Naša Stranka;
Уједињена Српска « Ujedińena Srpska »;
Savez za Bolju Budućnost BiH;
Narodni Evropski Savez;
Демократски Народни Савез « Demokratski Narodni Savez »;
Narod i Pravda.
— Assessment: Loose confederation of three sectarian-historical communities, Bošnjaci, Срби « Srbi », and Hrvati, and, in parallel, three autonomous units, the two “entities” Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine and Република Српска « Republika Srpska », and Brčko (technically a part of both entities, but largely independent of them). The sectarian communities have veto power over confederation decisions. The confederation is responsible for foreign affairs (including defense) and trade (including currency). The central state has been forced on the communities by powerful states, originally through NATO intervention, maintained through the threat of economic and diplomatic isolation. A very tenuous balance exists among the communities, who are still recovering from the atrocious war of secession from Jugoslavija. Partially autocratic as a UN protectorate; Schmidt is the eighth high representative to hold the post. Nationalists from the various factions dominate politics.
— FH: 3-3, partly free (democratic). Econ: 5.11 (98), hybrid. (For Bosna as a whole.)
— Updated: 2021 November 28.
O.T. FORD