PACE concerned over pressure on journalists

A Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) delegation called on all political parties to refrain from influencing media outlets' editorial policy. The delegation headed by Jean-Charles Gardetto, which visited Belgrade on Wednesday to assess the election campaign, qualified as positive the preparations for the elections, but expressed concern over pressure exerted on "some journalists". PACE concerned over pressure on journalists The delegation welcomes the smooth preparation of the elections and the fact that all the political stakeholders have expressed confidence in the electoral process and the election campaign, which, for most of the political parties, focuses mainly on economic issues and European integration. As far as the possible organization of parliamentary and presidential elections in Kosovo, "the mission was informed of on-going discussions and will follow the matter," the CoE said in the statement. The members of the mission stressed that the electoral legislation, as amended in 2011, will increase the effective choice of citizens: the introduction of closed lists and the end of the "party-administrated mandates", the abolition of "blank resignations" and an improved access of women to parliament. The mission urged all political parties to implement these changes in good faith and in the spirit of the law. The newly-adopted Law on Funding of Political Activity, which regulates campaign expenses, will improve the transparency of the elections and the accountability of political parties, the statement reads. However, many interlocutors expressed their suspicion that corruption might occur nevertheless. The pre-electoral delegation therefore calls on the authorities to ensure that the Anti-Corruption Agency will have adequate human and financial resources to monitor the funding of the electoral campaign. The mission also took note of the complaints made by small political parties regarding fair access to funding and media. The PACE will send a 26-member delegation to monitor the elections in Serbia called for May 6. Tanjug

PACE concerned over pressure on journalists

The delegation welcomes the smooth preparation of the elections and the fact that all the political stakeholders have expressed confidence in the electoral process and the election campaign, which, for most of the political parties, focuses mainly on economic issues and European integration.

As far as the possible organization of parliamentary and presidential elections in Kosovo, "the mission was informed of on-going discussions and will follow the matter," the CoE said in the statement.

The members of the mission stressed that the electoral legislation, as amended in 2011, will increase the effective choice of citizens: the introduction of closed lists and the end of the "party-administrated mandates", the abolition of "blank resignations" and an improved access of women to parliament.

The mission urged all political parties to implement these changes in good faith and in the spirit of the law.

The newly-adopted Law on Funding of Political Activity, which regulates campaign expenses, will improve the transparency of the elections and the accountability of political parties, the statement reads.

However, many interlocutors expressed their suspicion that corruption might occur nevertheless. The pre-electoral delegation therefore calls on the authorities to ensure that the Anti-Corruption Agency will have adequate human and financial resources to monitor the funding of the electoral campaign.

The mission also took note of the complaints made by small political parties regarding fair access to funding and media.

The PACE will send a 26-member delegation to monitor the elections in Serbia called for May 6.