Experts Warn Proposed Limits on Serbian Officials Campaigning Will Be Ineffective

With early parliamentary elections likely this autumn, Serbian authorities are proposing legislation to regulate campaigning by public officials – but critics warn the potential changes are more cosmetic than substantial.

Serbia’s parliament began a debate on amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Corruption on Monday – changes the government says will regulate political campaigning by public officials.

But the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency Serbia claims the measures are unlikely to be effective.  

Transparency Serbia said the amendments “create the appearance that restrictions are being introduced, while in practice they will have virtually no effect”.

The watchdog pointed out that the OSCE’s Office

The watchdog pointed out that the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has identified campaigning by public officials as “a key element in blurring the line between the party and the state” in Serbia. 

It noted that restrictions would apply only after the publication of electoral lists, and focus solely on the conduct of officials who have been nominated as candidates. As a result, the period before this remains unregulated. 

It said this allows officials to use “pseudo-events” like school, hospital and construction site tours to campaign, as long as visits were arranged “before the elections were called”.

With advance notice of election dates, government candidates

With advance notice of election dates, government candidates could schedule events “precisely for the period leading up to the elections, even though these events serve no purpose other than promotion.”

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has yet to name the precise date for early parliamentary elections, though he has said they will be held in October.

In the meantime, he has embarked on a prolific schedule ofvisitsaround the country. Videos from those events appear on media outlets and social networks, showing local people asking the president about infrastructure works and job opportunities. Vucic has alsoannouncednumerous giveaways for Serbian adults, alongside a range of subsidies. 

This is precisely what Transparency Serbia has

This is precisely what Transparency Serbia has in mind with its definition of “promotional activity” by a public official. It says the draft amendments also fail to address ODIHR delivered recommendations on restricting “extraordinary spending by state institutions ahead of elections”.

The watchdog claims that this “helicopter money” – including various measures planned by the government, such as salary increases, lower medicine prices and one-off payments to various different sectors of society – will amount to almost one billion euros by the time the elections are held.

Source: balkaninsight.com