Democratic Front nominates Slaven Kovasevic for BiH Presidency in 2026 elections

DF’s candidate for the BiH Presidency will be Slaven Kovacevic, the party confirmed to the Fena news agency.

The current Chairman of the BiH Presidency and DF leader, Zeljko Komsic, is ineligible to run in the next General Elections due to having served two consecutive terms.

However, during a lecture last year on BiH Independence Day to Political Science students in Sarajevo, Komsic hinted at the decision. When asked by a student if he had found a replacement, Komsic confirmed he had, though he did not specify the individual at the time.

A Candidate with constitutional relevance

It is important to note that Kovacevic previously served as Komsic’s cabinet advisor and was the applicant in a significant case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

In 2023, the ECHR initially ruled in Kovacevic’s favour, recognizing a new form of discrimination in BiH's constitutional order regarding his non-representation in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Presidency. Kovacevic had complained that he could not vote for candidates of his choice in the 2022 General and Presidential elections. However, the ECHR later overturned that initial ruling this year, stating that human rights had not been violated.