According to preliminary results announced on Sunday night, former president Milorad Dodik’s close ally, Siniša Karan won the presidential election in the Serb Republic (Republica Srpska).
Karan gathered close to 59% of the votes, the local election committee said. The opposition candidate, Branko Blanuša of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) received just under 48%.
The extraordinary elections had to be held after a court stripped Dodik of his position.
The Sunday elections was held amid a very low turnout, with only 35.78% of eligible citizens going to the polls, compared to the 2022 general elections, where 53% cast their votes.
Karan’s presidentila mandate is for less than a year, as next October general elections will be held.
