Press Release

REC has to perform its legal obligation and not to ask for excuses

Organization Transparency – Serbia evaluates claims of REC (Republic Election Committee) official that „there is no sanction“ for election participants which didn't submit reports on campaign financing, and that „REC can only note in its report that they haven't perform that duty“ as completely incorrect.

On the contrary, sanction exist, and it is quite precisely determined in article 19, para 1, clausal 4 of the Law on Financing of Political Parties. Not only that non submitting of reports within ten day's deadline from election campaign ending, but is also punishable submitting of reports which aren't in accordance with Law and Ministry of Finance's Rulebook which regulates content and manner of filling of reports on campaign financing.

In such cases fines could be brought in misdemeanor procedure. REC (as body in charge to check campaign finance reports) and relevant municipal public prosecutor are authorized for bringing of such procedure. Until now, these procedures, besides numerous doubts in accuracy of reports and regularity of campaign financing, have never been lead, precisely because of inactivity of organs which should bring them.

In the situation when even officials of REC insufficiently know provisions of the Law on Financing of Political Parties whose control they should perform, it is hard to hope that such control could bring any result. It is even harder to resist the impression that the thing is about conscious neglecting of it's duties, aimed to protect interests of those who disregarded the rules on campaign financing.

Transparency – Serbia

Belgrade , June 2 2008.