Newsroom
First rulings on violations of election campaign financing in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 7 November 2000
SARAJEVO, 7 November 2000 - At its session on 6 November 2000, the Elections Appeals Sub-Commission (EASC) ruled on the first in a series of cases regarding alleged violations of the campaign financing requirements set forth in the Provisional Election Commission (PEC) Rules and Regulations and the State Law on Political Party Financing.
Article 1601 of the Rules and Regulations requires political parties to file financial disclosure reports and copies of their periodic financial report with the PEC before the general elections. The Rules and Regulations and the State Law on Political Party Financing are designed to ensure
transparency in political party financing.
The EASC reviewed the audit reports and the submissions from the parties involved. The EASC decided the following:
All parties were directed to comply with the campaign financing requirements and provide complete co-operation with the audit teams in the future.
The EASC maintained jurisdiction in these cases and warned the parties that future non-compliance would lead to greater sanctions.
The EASC will issue additional rulings regarding political party finance cases at its next session on 9 November 2000.
Decisions of the EASC are final and binding and are not subject to appeals.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
For more information please call OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++387/(0)33 292-449 or at ++387/(0)66 144-311.
Article 1601 of the Rules and Regulations requires political parties to file financial disclosure reports and copies of their periodic financial report with the PEC before the general elections. The Rules and Regulations and the State Law on Political Party Financing are designed to ensure
transparency in political party financing.
The EASC reviewed the audit reports and the submissions from the parties involved. The EASC decided the following:
- With regard to the Socialist Party of the Republika Srpska (SPRS) had failed to meet the requirements of Article 1601 and had obstructed the audit team. As a sanction, the EASC struck one candidate from SPRS' candidates' list for Constituency 302 for the RS National Assembly
- With regard to the New Croat Initiative (NHI) and the Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SBiH), the EASC found that both parties failed to meet the requirements of Article 1601 and co-operate with the audit team, but that their conduct did not reach the level of obstruction. The EASC therefore censored NHI and SBiH.
All parties were directed to comply with the campaign financing requirements and provide complete co-operation with the audit teams in the future.
The EASC maintained jurisdiction in these cases and warned the parties that future non-compliance would lead to greater sanctions.
The EASC will issue additional rulings regarding political party finance cases at its next session on 9 November 2000.
Decisions of the EASC are final and binding and are not subject to appeals.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
For more information please call OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++387/(0)33 292-449 or at ++387/(0)66 144-311.