Bakir Izetbegović declared election victory

A few moments ago, SDA Vice-President Bakir Izetbegović addressed a large number of journalists. He announced an election victory over his rival Fahrudin Radončić, whom he stated he defeated by more than 60,000 votes, claiming to have received over 200,000 votes in total, reports a Patria News Agency reporter.  

- I am the first, after the late Alija Izetbegović, to win the mandate of the Bosniak member of the Presidency of BiH for the second time in a row. I won with more votes than in the 2010 elections, which means I must continue on the same path, said Izetbegović. 

Furthermore, according to available data for other levels of government, SDA is the leading party ahead of DF and SBB. However, Izetbegović could not say who would be in the coalition, but he did say that some had disqualified themselves by spreading untruths and lies during the election campaign. 

- I pleaded for the election campaign to be conducted correctly. You cannot say that someone is responsible for murders and then expect to be in a coalition with them, he added. 

Incidentally, a large number of party sympathizers gathered in front of the SDA Headquarters, who welcomed Izetbegović with great ovations as he waved to those present from the building's balcony. Immediately after his address, a large convoy of cars decorated with SDA flags honked and set off to tour the city. 

10:00 PM In an address to journalists, Asim Sarajlić, Vice-President of SDA, declared the victory of Bakir Izetbegović and the party at all levels, reports a Patria News Agency reporter. 

According to him, 54 percent of the votes have been counted, and for SDA, Izetbegović is the new-old member of the Presidency of BiH, leading Fahrudin Radončić by 40,000 votes. 

At SDA, both in the yard in front of the Headquarters building and inside the building, everything has been prepared for the celebration since 7 PM. There is plenty of food, SDA members are arriving by the minute, visibly cheerful and already celebrating. However, it is too early to draw conclusions, as a large number of votes from polling stations have yet to be counted. 

The party's top leadership has already gathered at the Headquarters, and Bakir Izetbegović arrived accompanied by his wife Sebija, and told the gathered journalists "good evening" in passing. 

At the very entrance to the Headquarters building, at the bottom of the stairs, four bodyguards are monitoring the movements of journalists and checking who is entering and passing towards the offices. 

At 11 PM, a large number of SDA members gathered in the courtyard of the SDA Headquarters, arriving in decorated cars, and the celebration began with music. According to the latest data from the Election Headquarters, Izetbegović won 59,688 more votes than Fahrudin Radončić.