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80 per cent of citizens do not believe officials

One third of Serbian citizens thinks that state officials placing their personal interests above public ones should be dismissed or not allowed to be in politics for a lifetime. This is one of the results of polls conducted by organization called 'Transparency of Serbia' /a branch of 'Transparency International'/.

The research was carried out in March and April this year and included 993 citizens of 19 municipalities of Serbia.

Even 65 per cent of those covered by the polls think that state officials give advantage to members of their party at employment. Even 55 per cent thinks that state officials interpret laws as suitable to themselves.

If a politician would lie ABOUT himself, 91 per cent of voters would not give their votes to such a politician.

'In Serbia it is not pleasant to be an official. Judging by these results the public opinion has rather critical approach towards officials. That is not good for the officials, but is good for democracy', Vladimir Goati, president of 'Transparency of Serbia' says.

The citizens are mostly irritated if officials are at the same time owners or co-owners of private companies. Even 73 per cent finds that damaging. Also 72 per cent says that officials should not be members of management boards of various companies.

When public interest is concerned, 77 per cent says that fight against organized crime is a priority. Then follows larger care of the State in the sphere of health care, education and employment. Another group of priorities consists of economic development /52 per cent/, development of market economy /36/, decrease in difference between the rich and the poor /35/ and admittance to European Union /32 per cent/.

The lowest places in the list of priorities occupy independence of Serbia /16 per cent/, joining NATO and other regional integration processes in the Balkans and division of Serbia into regions /5 per cent each/.

Blic 16. May 2003.

ts and MEDIA > transparency serbia press conference - selected articles published in newspapers