BS
The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Pod lupom” reported the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats – SNSD – Milorad Dodik in mid-September for a premature campaign.
In early September, content about the development and modernization of the “Dr. Miroslav Zotović” Institute in Slatina was published on the official Facebook profile of Milorad Dodik, accompanied by a video recording in which Dodik talks about the past results and future development of this public institution. The post presents the development of the Institute as a “major leap in the development of healthcare in the Republika Srpska,” highlighting the previous increase in capacity, successful business operations, and planned investments. It states that 80 million BAM has been earmarked for the first phase, while the total value of the project exceeds 500 million BAM.
In the video, Dodik directly addresses the director, ministers, and the Prime Minister with a request to proceed with the realization of the project and for the Government to approve the necessary activities. By doing so, along with presenting past results, future investments and activities of public institutions are simultaneously announced. According to the assessment of the initiator, this is an attempt to win the trust of voters in the elections.
The Election Law of BiH defines a premature campaign as “any form of campaign activities undertaken by political subjects in the period from the announcement of elections until the official start of the election campaign.” The Election Law of BiH also defines the election 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.”
Given that conducting an election campaign in electronic, online, and print media, via social networks, or any other form of public campaign advertising is prohibited during the period of the premature election campaign, the “Pod lupom” Coalition considered that Article 7, Paragraph 1 of the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina had been violated.
The Central Election Commission assessed that the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats – SNSD is responsible because its supporter, namely its president, Milorad Dodik, conducted an election campaign via his Facebook social media profile during the period of the premature election campaign. SNSD – Milorad Dodik was issued a financial sanction of 10,500 BAM.
