The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEC BiH) has exercised its legal authority to sanction the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) with a fine of 30,000 convertible marks—over €15,000—after the party’s president, Milorad Dodik, delivered a pre-election speech in East Sarajevo on November 10 that blatantly targeted Bosniaks. The move underscores the CEC’s mandate to uphold democratic standards and prevent the use of ethnic hatred as a political tool.
The proceedings, initiated ex officio, found Dodik’s remarks in direct violation of the BiH Election Law, which strictly prohibits speech that incites discrimination, intolerance, or violence against any ethnic group. At the rally, Dodik warned that East Sarajevo “must not allow additional Islamization,” denigrated Bosniaks as “Muslims who multiply like amoebas,” and attacked Turks, claiming “no one lies worse and more than the Turks.” He framed Bosniaks as a political threat, calling for resistance against “great Muslim nationalism” and the “reincarnation of political Islam.”
CEC member Suad Arnautović condemned Dodik’s statements as “scandalous,” noting that they deliberately stoked fear and hostility among citizens. “This is speech intended to incite hatred and intolerance. The CEC has a legal duty to act against such behavior to protect democratic norms and interethnic harmony,” Arnautović said.
Despite Dodik’s attempts to weaponize ethnic division for political gain, the CEC acted decisively, issuing the fine while stopping short of revoking SNSD’s election candidacy, a decision made to avoid penalizing Siniša Karan, who did not participate in the rally. Nonetheless, CEC President Jovan Kalaba warned that future violations could lead to disqualification of the political entity, signaling that the Commission will not tolerate repeated breaches of the law.
Other members of the CEC described Dodik’s speech as manipulative and rooted in personal frustration, yet all acknowledged that the language used was unacceptable in any democratic election process. Vanja Bjelica Prutina noted that the fine was “adequately measured” as a first sanction, setting a precedent for accountability in this electoral cycle.
The case also follows complaints filed by Bosniak politicians to the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, which referred the matter to the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in East Sarajevo, reinforcing that Dodik’s rhetoric crosses both legal and ethical lines.
Dodik’s continued use of ethnically inflammatory language reveals a disturbing pattern of exploiting fear and division to maintain political influence. The CEC’s intervention demonstrates that independent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina retain the authority and responsibility to act as a check on such dangerous political behavior.
By issuing this sanction, the CEC not only holds Dodik and the SNSD accountable but also sends a clear message: hate speech and manipulation of ethnic tensions will not be tolerated, even from the highest levels of political leadership.
