BS
The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Pod lupom” reported the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats – SNSD – Milorad Dodik for a premature campaign in the third week of August.
On the official Facebook page of the political entity SNSD (SNSD Banja Luka), two video recordings were published about the renovated children’s playground in the Vrbanja settlement, the opening of which was attended by supporters of the political entity SNSD, and the project itself was presented as the merit of the SNSD party. Specifically, the video description stated: “The residents of Vrbanja are overjoyed because of the new children’s playground. They have been waiting for this for a long time, and for years they did not receive a response to numerous requests addressed to the City Administration.” Furthermore, in his address to the citizens present, Srđan Amidžić (SNSD) says (1:33-1:42 min): “..Because I think this is our obligation and just one project in a series of others that we will continue, of sidewalks and everything else…”
The “Pod lupom” Coalition considered that this publication violated the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Election Law of BiH defines premature election campaign as “any form of campaign activities undertaken by political subjects in the period from the calling of elections to the period of the official start of the election campaign.” Also, the Election Law of BiH defines a premature campaign as “actions and procedures (…) during which a political subject in a manner prescribed by law acquaints voters and the public with their programs and candidates for the upcoming elections.”
Based on the publication, the Coalition considered that it was a violation of Article 7.1 of the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Central Election Commission determined that it was a case of a premature campaign and abuse of children for political purposes. The Alliance of Independent Social Democrats – SNSD – Milorad Dodik was fined in the amount of 10,000 BAM, and candidates Goran Maričić and Srđan Amidžić were fined in the amount of 5,000 BAM. When imposing the fine, CIK took into account that SNSD had already been penalized 17 times for premature campaigning by the time the fine was issued.
