Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Incumbent Željko Komšić since 16 July 2025
Member of	Presidency
Seat	Presidency Building, Sarajevo
Appointer	Popularly elected
Term length	Eight months rotated among Members of Presidency over four year term
Formation	5 October 1996
First holder	Alija Izetbegović
Salary	3,091 EUR per month

The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is like the main leader of a special group called the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This group acts as the head of state for the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Think of the head of state as the official representative of a country. The Presidency is made up of three people who share this important job.

Željko Komšić is the person currently holding this position. He started his current term on July 16, 2025.

How the Presidency Works

Three Leaders for One Country

The Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina explains how the Presidency is set up. It has three members, and each one represents a different main group of people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These groups are the Bosniak, the Serb, and the Croat members.

The Bosniak and Croat members are chosen by voters in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Serb member is chosen by voters in Republika Srpska. This system makes sure all major groups have a voice in the country's leadership.

Serving the Country

Once elected, all three members of the Presidency serve together for four years. A person can be elected for two terms in a row, but there's no limit to how many terms they can serve in total, as long as they don't serve more than two consecutively.

Even though all three members are leaders, one of them is chosen to be the "Chairman." This Chairman position rotates among the three members. Each person gets to be Chairman for eight months. The person who received the most votes in the election usually becomes the first Chairman for that four-year period.

Leaders Since Independence (1992–Present)

Since Bosnia and Herzegovina became an independent country, many people have served in the Presidency and as its Chairman. Here are some of the leaders who have held this important role.

      Party of Democratic Action       Socialist Party       Croatian Democratic Union       Social Democratic Party       Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina       Serb Democratic Party       Alliance of Independent Social Democrats       Democratic Front       Party of Democratic Progress

Picture		Name (Born–Died)	Group	Time in Office			Political Party
				Started	Ended	Length
President of the Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
1		Alija Izetbegović (1925–2003)	Bosniak	March 3, 1992	October 5, 1996	4 years, 216 days	SDA
Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
(1)		Alija Izetbegović (1925–2003)	Bosniak	October 5, 1996	October 13, 1998	2 years, 8 days	SDA
2		Živko Radišić (1937–2021)	Serb	October 13, 1998	June 15, 1999	245 days	SP
3		Ante Jelavić (born 1963)	Croat	June 15, 1999	February 14, 2000	244 days	HDZ BiH
(1)		Alija Izetbegović (1925–2003)	Bosniak	February 14, 2000	October 14, 2000	243 days	SDA
(2)		Živko Radišić (1937–2021)	Serb	October 14, 2000	June 14, 2001	243 days	SP
4		Jozo Križanović (1944–2009)	Croat	June 14, 2001	February 14, 2002	245 days	SDP BiH
5		Beriz Belkić (1946–2023)	Bosniak	February 14, 2002	October 28, 2002	256 days	SBiH
6		Mirko Šarović (born 1956)	Serb	October 28, 2002	April 2, 2003	156 days	SDS
7		Dragan Čović (born 1956) Acting	Croat	April 2, 2003	April 10, 2003	8 days	HDZ BiH
8		Borislav Paravac (born 1943)	Serb	April 10, 2003	June 27, 2003	78 days	SDS
(7)		Dragan Čović (born 1956)	Croat	June 27, 2003	February 28, 2004	246 days	HDZ BiH
9		Sulejman Tihić (1951–2014)	Bosniak	February 28, 2004	October 28, 2004	243 days	SDA
(8)		Borislav Paravac (born 1943)	Serb	October 28, 2004	June 28, 2005	243 days	SDS
10		Ivo Miro Jović (born 1950)	Croat	June 28, 2005	February 28, 2006	245 days	HDZ BiH
(9)		Sulejman Tihić (1951–2014)	Bosniak	February 28, 2006	November 6, 2006	251 days	SDA
11		Nebojša Radmanović (born 1949)	Serb	November 6, 2006	July 6, 2007	242 days	SNSD
12		Željko Komšić (born 1964)	Croat	July 6, 2007	March 6, 2008	244 days	SDP BiH
13		Haris Silajdžić (born 1945)	Bosniak	March 6, 2008	November 6, 2008	245 days	SBiH
(11)		Nebojša Radmanović (born 1949)	Serb	November 6, 2008	July 6, 2009	242 days	SNSD
(12)		Željko Komšić (born 1964)	Croat	July 6, 2009	March 6, 2010	243 days	SDP BiH
(13)		Haris Silajdžić (born 1945)	Bosniak	March 6, 2010	November 10, 2010	249 days	SBiH
(11)		Nebojša Radmanović (born 1949)	Serb	November 10, 2010	July 10, 2011	242 days	SNSD
(12)		Željko Komšić (born 1964)	Croat	July 10, 2011	March 10, 2012	244 days	SDP BiH
14		Bakir Izetbegović (born 1956)	Bosniak	March 10, 2012	November 10, 2012	245 days	SDA
(11)		Nebojša Radmanović (born 1949)	Serb	November 10, 2012	July 10, 2013	242 days	SNSD
(12)		Željko Komšić (born 1964)	Croat	July 10, 2013	March 10, 2014	243 days	DF
(14)		Bakir Izetbegović (born 1956)	Bosniak	March 10, 2014	November 17, 2014	245 days	SDA
15		Mladen Ivanić (born 1958)	Serb	November 17, 2014	July 17, 2015	242 days	PDP
(7)		Dragan Čović (born 1956)	Croat	July 17, 2015	March 17, 2016	244 days	HDZ BiH
(14)		Bakir Izetbegović (born 1956)	Bosniak	March 17, 2016	November 17, 2016	245 days	SDA
(15)		Mladen Ivanić (born 1958)	Serb	November 17, 2016	July 17, 2017	242 days	PDP
(7)		Dragan Čović (born 1956)	Croat	July 17, 2017	March 17, 2018	243 days	HDZ BiH
(14)		Bakir Izetbegović (born 1956)	Bosniak	March 17, 2018	November 20, 2018	248 days	SDA
16		Milorad Dodik (born 1959)	Serb	November 20, 2018	July 20, 2019	242 days	SNSD
(12)		Željko Komšić (born 1964)	Croat	July 20, 2019	March 20, 2020	244 days	DF
17		Šefik Džaferović (born 1957)	Bosniak	March 20, 2020	November 20, 2020	245 days	SDA
(16)		Milorad Dodik (born 1959)	Serb	November 20, 2020	July 20, 2021	242 days	SNSD
(12)		Željko Komšić (born 1964)	Croat	July 20, 2021	March 20, 2022	243 days	DF
(17)		Šefik Džaferović (born 1957)	Bosniak	March 20, 2022	November 16, 2022	241 days	SDA
18		Željka Cvijanović (born 1967)	Serb	November 16, 2022	July 16, 2023	242 days	SNSD
(12)		Željko Komšić (born 1964)	Croat	July 16, 2023	March 16, 2024	244 days	DF
19		Denis Bećirović (born 1975)	Bosniak	March 16, 2024	November 16, 2024	245 days	SDP BiH
(18)		Željka Cvijanović (born 1967)	Serb	November 16, 2024	July 16, 2025	242 days	SNSD
(12)		Željko Komšić (born 1964)	Croat	July 16, 2025	Currently in office	41 days	DF

More About Bosnia and Herzegovina's Government

• Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • List of members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina