国际英语新闻:Feature: BiH citizens hope for new prosperity after general elections

SARAJEVO, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) voted on the general elections on Sunday, hoping for a better prosperity in both economic and political spheres.

"At the elections, I expect the party with young, educated and persuasive people who are really ready to change the situation in the country to win," Enisa Prijic, a 23 years old student of Economics at the University of Sarajevo told Xinhua while waiting in a queue.

She highlighted that she expects from the elected leaders to start working on the positive changes for BiH, in economic and political terms. Prijic believes that only with a strong economy, conditions will be met for young people to have a good perspective here and a chance to progress, and this is important for her, as a young person.

"I think that BiH authorities have to first change the economy within the state in order to move forward to the European Union. This would be feasible and possible if the right people and experts in this area are chosen," Prijic explained.

Voting began at 7 a.m. local time on Sunday at 5,794 polling stations across the country.

The hope for a change was widely shared among voters.

Four women who have worked for a state-owned company for 20 years expressed their hope to Xinhua.

"We are working in the same company for two decades, and we came here to vote in order to change the future of our children. BiH needs changes from the roots, a change that will bring political stability, and prosperity to young people, future generations," said Ferida Kljujic.

Fatima Fazlic, the 60 year-old pensioner, said that she hopes BiH people will understand that it is particularly them who are responsible for the situation the country is in.

"I sincerely hope and wish that as many people as possible will vote for the new, educated people who care about this country," Fazlic said.

According to the country's Central Election Commission (CIK), until 3 p.m. local time, 37.21 percent registered voters cast their ballots, 0.61 percent higher than the turnout in 2014 general election.

More than 3.38 million BiH voters are eligible to vote to elect a new presidency and parliament.

Fifty-eight political parties, 36 coalitions and 34 independent candidates are running in the elections with a total of 7,497 candidates running for 518 positions for all levels of government.

Sefika Smajic, a doctor working in the main hospital in Sarajevo, hopes that after elections, BiH will show better results in terms of better foreign politics, and new executive and legislative branch will bring new plan that will bring BiH closer to the EU.

"New authorities that will come after the elections are obligatory, by the previous contract with the EU, to answer the European Commission questionnaire," Smajic said, adding that some 85 percent of BiH citizens strive towards entering the EU. Smajic believes that becoming a EU member state will bring economic prosperity to BiH, especially when it has access to the EU funds.

In one of the most complex electoral systems in the world, BiH voters will elect tripartite members of the presidency, which represents the three major ethnic groups of Bosnians, Serbs and Croats.

They will also choose a president and two vice presidents of Republika Srpska (RS), one of BiH's entities, and its Assembly members.

In addition, voters will choose members of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, Federation of BiH (FBiH) Parliament, and assemblies of ten cantons in FBiH.