Separatist candidate wins presidential vote in Bosnia's Serb region

A Bosnian Serb votes during the Serb Republic's early presidential election called by the state election authorities after Milorad Dodik, the region's former president, was banned from holding a political office for six years, in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, November 23, 2025. REUTERS/Amel Emric

BANJA LUKA/SARAJEVO, Bosnia (Reuters) -A close ally of Bosnia's Serb Republic separatist leader Milorad Dodik won a snap presidential election in a tight race with opposition candidate, the election commission said on Sunday, citing preliminary results.

"According to preliminary, unofficial and incomplete results, Sinisa Karan won 50.89% of the votes," Jovan Kalaba, the commission's president, said at a news conference.