Branko Petric was elected the new President of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday, winning in the second round of the voting a majority of the votes.

Five of seven members of the commission backed Petric, who will take the office as of Monday.

In the first round of the vote, Petric won four and his rival three votes, which led to the second round.

Pursuant to Bosnia's Election Law, the President of the Central Election Commission is appointed from amongst its members. Each member of the Commission, a Croat, a Bosniak, a Serb and a representative of the Others, shall perform the duty of the president according to the rotation principle, once in seven years for the period of twenty-one months. The Commission president, according to the law, should be elected in a two-third majority.

The changes in the Central Election Commission presidency took place ahead of the general election in Bosnia, scheduled for October 7.