The convincing victories of the previous ruling politicians in Serbia and Hungary in Sunday’s elections are being closely followed in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well. There are differing opinions on how the consolidation of Vučić’s and Orban’s policies and the apparent strengthening of the right will affect the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. While some call for caution, others see an opportunity to intensify dialogue and regional integration.
Aleksandar Vučić celebrated the victory by warning that Serbia has turned dramatically to the right, alluding to extreme right-wing parties that have crossed the election threshold. Viktor Orban cleaned up the united opposition and sent a sharp message to Brussels. Given the undiminished differences in political relations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the strengthening of the domestic right and instability is inevitable, according to the editor of Buka.
“Because right-wing populist policies do not provide a solution to the problem, they try to play with the problems, they remain the same and it seems that you are fighting against them in some way,” explains Aleksandar Trifunović.
On the contrary, Belgrade analyst Dusan Janjic believes that after the elections, saving the economy and reducing energy dependence on Russia is a priority for Hungary, and especially for Serbia. He believes that Vučić could use the position of a kind of bridge for communication between Moscow and the EU and follow the policy of Brussels, BHRT writes.
“It is a fact that will determine, for example, Vučić not to undermine in any way to facilitate electoral reforms and other things that the international community and the EU are doing primarily in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” says Janjić.
According to Janjic, all this is not in favor of Milorad Dodik, who did not fulfill the tasks that Moscow expected from him. But there are also those who think that Russia has a great influence on both Hungary and Serbia.
“It is clear that BiH must continue to compete for international attention with the same well-known players, but at the moment these players have a stronger role because they feel politically empowered. This will certainly be an additional problem, especially because Moscow “Obviously, they are very happy with the results of these elections,” said journalist Ranko Mavrak.
There will be no major changes and the impact of the election results of the surrounding countries on Bosnia and Herzegovina, thinks Professor Milos Solaja.
“It is only possible that they will insist on cooperation a little more, considering that there is no will in BiH to enter the Open Balkans, and now those initiatives will mean much more than before due to the conflict in Ukraine,” says Solaja.
More understanding and tolerance will be demanded from the European Union, Sholaja believes, especially when it comes to respecting international agreements or openness to new processes in the Western Balkans.
