Party financing, blank resignations on agenda

Serbia's MPs continued on Thursday their session with amendments to the Law on the Election of MPs and that related to party financing on the agenda. The adoption of the bill on financing of political activities is a step in further fight against corruption, and towards achieving of the Serbian government's most important goal - EU membership, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic stated on Thursday. Party financing, blank resignations on agenda Cvetkovic underscored at the beginning of a public debate on the bill that the adoption of such a law is one of the most important preconditions for Serbia's EU membership, which is the government's strategic priority. He said that the bill will enable public control over financing of political entities and prevention of the influence of informal centers of power which affect decision-making processes in an inadequate manner. “The law precisely stipulates the rules which will prevent the impact of such centers of power on political entities, on the other hand its adoption would be a guarantee that all political entities would provide funds for their work under the same conditions,” Cvetkovic said. According to the prime minister, prevention of corruption in the area of financing of political parties is very important since parties are the most important organizations of a democratic system. Cvetkovic recalled that the European Commission and the Venetian Commission, which is the key authority in this area, have voice their opinion on this bill. The prime minister pointed to the importance of a public debate on proposed legal solutions, since it would contribute to the quality of the parliamentary discussion and adoption of the best possible bill. The public debate will be attended by Serbian parliament speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, Minister of Justice Snezana Malovic, representatives of the Anti-Corruption Agency, MPs and representatives of NGOs. Another item on the agenda were amendments to the Law on the Election of MPs envisage abolishment of blank resignations. An MP will be allowed to submit a validated resignation to the Serbian parliament personally, either through an authorized person or by registered mail, within three days since its validation. It is also envisaged that, in case of early termination, a mandate should be given to the first next candidate from the election list. According to the amendments, at least one in four candidates on the election list should be a woman, and women should comprise at least 30 percent of the election list. Commenting the amendments proposed by 109 MPs of the ruling coalition, head of the ruling DS party-led coalition group Nada Kolundzija stated that the ruling coalition has proposed amendments to the Law on the Election of MPs so as to promote Serbia's aspirations of joining the EU, and to harmonize Serbia's legal and political system with the best European practice. (Beta)

Party financing, blank resignations on agenda

Cvetković underscored at the beginning of a public debate on the bill that the adoption of such a law is one of the most important preconditions for Serbia's EU membership, which is the government's strategic priority.

He said that the bill will enable public control over financing of political entities and prevention of the influence of informal centers of power which affect decision-making processes in an inadequate manner.

“The law precisely stipulates the rules which will prevent the impact of such centers of power on political entities, on the other hand its adoption would be a guarantee that all political entities would provide funds for their work under the same conditions,” Cvetković said.

According to the prime minister, prevention of corruption in the area of financing of political parties is very important since parties are the most important organizations of a democratic system.

Cvetković recalled that the European Commission and the Venetian Commission, which is the key authority in this area, have voice their opinion on this bill.

The prime minister pointed to the importance of a public debate on proposed legal solutions, since it would contribute to the quality of the parliamentary discussion and adoption of the best possible bill.

The public debate will be attended by Serbian parliament speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović, Minister of Justice Snežana Malović, representatives of the Anti-Corruption Agency, MPs and representatives of NGOs.

Another item on the agenda were amendments to the Law on the Election of MPs envisage abolishment of blank resignations.

An MP will be allowed to submit a validated resignation to the Serbian parliament personally, either through an authorized person or by registered mail, within three days since its validation.

It is also envisaged that, in case of early termination, a mandate should be given to the first next candidate from the election list.

According to the amendments, at least one in four candidates on the election list should be a woman, and women should comprise at least 30 percent of the election list.

Commenting the amendments proposed by 109 MPs of the ruling coalition, head of the ruling DS party-led coalition group Nada Kolundžija stated that the ruling coalition has proposed amendments to the Law on the Election of MPs so as to promote Serbia's aspirations of joining the EU, and to harmonize Serbia's legal and political system with the best European practice.