The CEC BiH Imposed Fines Worth Over Half a Million KM to The Political Entities for 2020 Local Elections Violations
“We have the situation where some political entities for twenty years have been continuously violating the law in this regard, and I doubt that there is a political entity that has not been sanctioned. Sadly, parties that are receiving huge amounts of money from all levels of government are nevertheless constantly being sanctioned ” – said the president of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEC BiH), Mrs. Irena Hadžiabdić.
At the 11th session of the CEC BiH, a total of 67 decisions on sanctions were issued for the same number of political entities for illegal financing of the election campaign and other election violations, while proceedings were suspended for three political entities because they return illegal donations. Fines worth a total of 540,200 KM were imposed.
Proceedings have been initiated against the 70 political subjects, participants in the 2020 Local Elections, for established irregularities, prohibited or undeclared contributions for financing in the course of these elections four years ago. When determining the amount of fines, the CEC BiH also took into account the amount of parties’ income (by auditing their financial reports) while as a mitigating and aggravating circumstance, CEC BiH considered whether parties were previously fined.
As a result of the CEC’s decisions, Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) received a fine worth 54,000 KM, which is the highest fine that has been imposed. Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDP BiH) was fined 20,500 KM, Party of Democratic Progress (PDP) was fined 43,000 KM, Croatian Democratic Union 1990 (HDZ 1990) was fined 21,500 KM, Party of Democratic Action (SDA) was fined 10,500 KM, Serb Democratic Party (SDS) was fined 12,000 KM, Democratic People’s Alliance (DNS) was fined 13,500 KM, Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HDZ) was fined 12,500 KM, Socialist Party (SP RS) was fined 6,000 KM, Democratic Front (DF) was fined 7,000 KM, Alliance for a better future (SBB) was fined 12,500 KM, Građanski savez (Civic Alliance) was fined 6,500 KM.
The Platform for Progress received fine worth 29,000 KM, the Herzegovinian People’s Movement was fined 2,000 KM, the Regional Democratic Party Gradačac was fined 21,000 KM, the Alliance of Young Forces was fined 20,000 KM, the Bosnian People’s Party was fined 7,000 KM, the United Srpska was fined 28,500 KM, the Independent List of Bosnia and Herzegovina was fined 11,500 KM, the Liberal Party of BiH was fined 7,000 KM, Party for BiH was fined 19,500 KM, Political organization of citizens Naša stranka was fined 16,500 KM, Independent Bloc was fined 4,500 KM, National Democratic Movement (NDP) was fined 5,500 KM, SNS FBiH was fined 11,500 KM, Party of Democratic Activities, Movement of Democratic Action and Labour Party of BiH were fined 4,000 KM each, Party of Pensioners of BiH was fined 4,500 KM, Croatian Republican Party was fined 3,000 KM, Bosnian-Herzegovinian Patriotic Party (BPS) Sefer Halilović was fined 7,000 KM, Croatian Party of BiH was fined 5,500 KM, Union of BiH Parties was fined 4,500 KM, BOSS was fined 4,000 KM, Tuzla Alternative was fined 6,500 KM.
The Croatian Peasant Party “Stjepan Radić” received fine worth 4,500 KM, Movement for a modern and active Krajina was fined 4,300 KM, Serbian Radical Party (SRS) “dr. Vojislav Šešelj” was fined 4,500 KM, Party of Democratic Srpska Semberija – Mićo Mićić was fined 5,500 KM, Socialist Party of Srpska was fined 3,000 KM, Croatian Peasant Party “Braća Radić” was fined 3,000 KM, Croatian Union HKDU “Hrast” was fined 4,000 KM, Napredna Srpske (NS) was fined 3,000 KM, Movement of Successful Srpska was fined 5,000 KM, Liberal Democratic Party (LDS) was fined 4,500 KM, Political organization Narod i pravda was fined 2,000 KM, HSP BiH was fined 2,500 KM, Croatian Independent List was fined 3,500 KM, Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) “dr Ante Starčević” BiH was fined 3,500 KM, Together for a better Srebrenik was fined 3,000 KM, Our Herzegovina was fined 2,500 KM, BH Democrats “Džebrail Ibraković ” was fined 4,000 KM, First Mostar Party was fined 1,500 KM, Democratic Center of RS, Prva SDS, Social Democrats of BiH and Otadžbinska Party were fined 1,000 KM each, Movement of Justice was fined 2,000 KM, SRS was fined 2,000 KM, Croatian National Movement was fined 2,100 KM, People’s Party “Radom za boljitak” was fined 2,000 KM, Voice of the People of BiH was fined 300 KM, Novo doba was fined 1,500 KM, Independent Party “dr. Mihajlo Tovirac” and the Movement “Most 21” were fined 3,000 KM each and Socialists SPS was fined 1,000 KM.
Proceedings have been suspended for the Party Youth for Change, the Free Party of Srpska and the Party of Social Security of Serbian Fighters, because they returned illegal donations.
Adopted decisions on sentencing have no legal binding power, against which an appeal can be filed to the Appellate Department of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina within 15 days from the date of receipt of the decision.
Mr. Vlado Rogić expressed his reservations about the amount of the fines, considering that they are too high for all political parties. Mrs. Vanja Bjelica Prutina disagreed with him, considering that fines imposed are actually stimulating and minimal for violations committed, citing the example of the SNSD, which has been sanctioned 13 times so far. Other members of the CEC BiH supported the fines proposed by the competent services of the CEC BiH, while Mr. Rogić was the only one CEC BiH member who voted against all decisions.
“The law on financing of political entities has never even been in the parliamentarian procedure and for eight years nothing has been done regarding criminal policy for political entities. We have the situation that for twenty years some political entities have been continuously violating the law in this regard, and I doubt that there is a political entity that has not been sanctioned. Sadly, parties that receive huge amounts of money from all levels of government are nevertheless constantly being sanctioned,” said the president of the Central Election Commission, Mrs. Irena Hadžiabdić, who also supported the sanctions imposed on political entities today.
News Source: Antikorupcija.info
Photos Source: Izbori.ba