BS
The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Pod Lupom” reported the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) – Milorad Dodik to the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina in June for violating election rules, specifically for conducting a premature election campaign.
At the end of June, a video was posted on the official Instagram account of Milorad Dodik, President of SNSD, in which Dodik, among other things, stated: “(…) Here in Republika Srpska, there is a strong political figure, Milorad Dodik, and SNSD, because people respect the brave, they respect the strong… Give me the strength so that Željka Cvijanović can go to the State Department and go to Brussels on behalf of our people and deliver our demands to them…” The video also criticized the opposition and highlighted the achievements of the authorities.
The Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina defines premature campaigning as “any form of campaign activity undertaken by political entities in the period from the calling of elections until the official start of the election campaign.” Since the message posted on the Instagram account constituted an appeal to voters and was published before the official election campaign began, the “Pod Lupom” Coalition considered that SNSD had violated the election rules.
The Central Election Commission requested a statement from SNSD. In its response, the party argued that Milorad Dodik was clearly not conducting a campaign because, in his address, he did not present voters with the party’s programme or the candidates for the upcoming elections.
The CIK rejected this argument, stating that the post highlighted the positive results of the authorities, “thereby presenting voters with the achievements of those in power with the aim of creating a positive perception of the holders of public office and the political party.” At the same time, according to the CIK, the content included negative characterizations directed at a political opponent, while presenting Milorad Dodik and Željka Cvijanović as capable and strong political representatives.
“These elements constitute a direct presentation and promotion of the political party and its candidates, while simultaneously discrediting a political opponent, which by its nature constitutes election campaigning aimed at securing voter support,” the Central Election Commission concluded.
Since the content was published before the official election campaign began, the CIK classified the post as premature election campaigning and therefore a violation of Article 7.1 of the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
When determining the amount of the fine, the CIK considered as an aggravating circumstance the fact that SNSD had already been fined 3,000 KM for premature election campaigning during the current election cycle.
