Newsroom
Kosovo political entities fined for violating financial disclosure rule
PRISTINA 18 December 2002
PRISTINA, 18 December 2002 - Elections in Kosovo have reached a new level of transparency this year with strict financial reporting requirements for political entities. However, thirteen entities that contested in the 26 October 2002 municipal elections have been fined by the Election Complains and Appeals sub-Commission (ECAC) for failing to disclose required information on campaign finances.
Following complaints from the OSCE Department of Election Operations, which audited campaign financial disclosure reports submitted by the political entities, the ECAC has made the following rulings:
The fines for each entity were set according to the severity of the failure to comply with the financial disclosure requirements.
Financial disclosure reports are to ensure that the political entities of Kosovo running in elections commit to transparency, an essential value in democratic societies. Political entities are to demonstrate to the public how funds and in-kind contributions are raised and spent, particularly in an electoral campaign.
In this electoral campaign the OSCE's auditors noted that while overall there is better reporting by political entities, there is still poor compliance by the larger political parties who demonstrate a reluctance to disclose sources of income. Now, more documents have become part of the public record - including donors lists, municipal reports, and party-wide reports - allowing auditors to measure parties' income with a greater degree of accuracy and setting the stage for the process of annual financial reporting by political parties.
This is the second time that professional and independent auditors have audited Kosovo's political entities. The audit is a capacity building project, intended to pave the way for the development of a more complete, efficient and sustainable system of financial disclosure for upcoming election campaigns.
The auditor's report on financial disclosure can be found on the website of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.
Following complaints from the OSCE Department of Election Operations, which audited campaign financial disclosure reports submitted by the political entities, the ECAC has made the following rulings:
- The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has been fined 3,500 euros.
- The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has been fined 2,500 euros.
- The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has been fined 1,800 euros.
- The New Initiative for Democracy in Kosovo (IRDK), National Front (BK), Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo (PSHDK), Justice Party (PD), New Party of Kosovo (PReK), Vatan, People's Movement of Kosovo (LPK), and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) have each been fined 350 euros.
- The Liberal Party of Kosovo (PLK) and the National Movement for the Liberation of Kosovo (LKÇK) have both been fined 250 euros.
The fines for each entity were set according to the severity of the failure to comply with the financial disclosure requirements.
Financial disclosure reports are to ensure that the political entities of Kosovo running in elections commit to transparency, an essential value in democratic societies. Political entities are to demonstrate to the public how funds and in-kind contributions are raised and spent, particularly in an electoral campaign.
In this electoral campaign the OSCE's auditors noted that while overall there is better reporting by political entities, there is still poor compliance by the larger political parties who demonstrate a reluctance to disclose sources of income. Now, more documents have become part of the public record - including donors lists, municipal reports, and party-wide reports - allowing auditors to measure parties' income with a greater degree of accuracy and setting the stage for the process of annual financial reporting by political parties.
This is the second time that professional and independent auditors have audited Kosovo's political entities. The audit is a capacity building project, intended to pave the way for the development of a more complete, efficient and sustainable system of financial disclosure for upcoming election campaigns.
The auditor's report on financial disclosure can be found on the website of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.