BS
In mid-August, the “Pod lupom” Coalition for Free and Fair Elections reported the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats – SNSD – Milorad Dodik for premature campaigning.
A video was published on the official Facebook page of the SNSD Banja Luka political entity, showing a visit by Goran Maričić, President of the SNSD Banja Luka City Board, and SNSD assembly member Bojan Pećanac, Director of the Center for Village and Agriculture. The video features an address to female agricultural producers from Donje Piskavice and Verići, accompanied by the description: “Support for rural life remains one of the top priorities of the SNSD.”
During the address, information was communicated that the attending agricultural producers could contact SNSD assembly members in the municipal assembly or in any other way for any kind of assistance. As shown in the video, this was not an official lawful gathering of party bodies.
By stating that support for rural life remains a priority of the SNSD, political messages are being sent, along with claims that the assembly members are “available 24 hours” and that “there is no rest during this period.”
The submitter of the initiative considered that this constituted promotion of the SNSD, influenced the will of voters, and sent a message that they were acting in their interest, which constitutes an electoral campaign during a period when political campaigning is prohibited.
The Central Election Commission requested a statement from the SNSD. The statement claimed that the event was organized for the purpose of exchanging opinions and views with agricultural producers and providing support for rural life, which is a regular political activity rather than a campaign. CIK rejected the defense and decided to impose a financial sanction on the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats – SNSD – Milorad Dodik in the amount of 8,500 KM, as well as a financial sanction on Goran Maričić, the candidate, in the amount of 4,000 KM. When deciding on the penalty amount, CIK took as an aggravating circumstance the fact that SNSD had not acted upon previous decisions regarding the removal of the disputed content.
